Laura, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LauraQueensland |
|||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Laura Railway Station, 1896
|
|||||||||||||||
 Laura
Location in Queensland
|
|||||||||||||||
| Population | 133 (2021 census) | ||||||||||||||
| • Density | 0.01714/km2 (0.0444/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4871 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 7,757.7 km2 (2,995.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | |||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Shire of Cook | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Cook | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Leichhardt | ||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
Laura is a small town in Queensland, Australia. It is located on the Cape York Peninsula in a region called Far North Queensland. In 2021, about 133 people lived in Laura.
Laura is famous for having the world's largest collection of ancient rock art. This includes an important area called Quinkan Country, which is listed as an Australian National Heritage site.
Contents
Where is Laura Located?
Laura is found on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland. The town sits on the Peninsula Developmental Road. This is the only main road that goes north up the peninsula, all the way to Weipa.
The town of Laura is also very close to the southern entrance of Rinyirru National Park. This park is in the nearby area of Lakefield.
Protecting Ancient Art: Quinkan Reserves
There are special protected areas for the rock art. These are called Quinkan Reserve 1 and Quinkan Reserve 2. They help keep the ancient artworks safe.
Most of the land around Laura is used for grazing animals. This means cattle eat the natural plants that grow there.
A Glimpse into Laura's Past
Aboriginal people have lived in the Laura River valley for at least 50,000 years. During the wet season, they would camp under rock shelters on high ground. This is where many of their amazing rock paintings can still be found today.
Traditional Languages of the Area
Two important Aboriginal languages were spoken here. These are Guugu Yimithirr and Kuku-Thaypan. These languages connect people to their land and history.
How Laura Got Its Name
The town of Laura is named after the Laura River. The river was named in 1873 by an explorer and surveyor named Archibald Campbell Macmillan. He named it after his wife, Laura Bower.
The Gold Rush and the Railway
Laura started to grow when gold was found on the Palmer River in 1873. Many people traveled through Laura to reach the goldfields from Cooktown.
A railway line was built from Cooktown to Laura by 1888. This railway helped miners and cattle properties. The railway was planned to go further, but the gold rush slowed down. The railway finally closed in 1961.
Discovering the Rock Art
In the 1960s, amazing Quinkan rock art galleries were reported. This happened thanks to Percy Trezise, an airline pilot. He looked for sites from the air and then explored them on foot.
Learning in Laura
Laura State School is a primary school for children from Early Childhood to Year 6. It is located on Terminus Street. In 2018, the school had 7 students.
There is no high school in Laura itself. Older students can go to Cooktown State School, which is nearby. However, for some students, distance education (learning from home) or boarding schools are other options.
What to See and Do in Laura
Laura is surrounded by some of the world's oldest and largest rock painting galleries. Some of these can be visited by the public.
There is an Interpretive Centre in Laura. Here, you can learn about the rock art and local Aboriginal culture. You can also arrange tours to see the art.
Laura is also part of a "Scenic Triangle" for tourists. This triangle connects Cooktown, Lakeland, and Laura.
Celebrating Culture: The Laura Quinkan Dance Festival
The Ang-Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation looks after the traditional lands around Laura. They host the Laura Quinkan Dance Festival. This is a special three-day event that happens every two years.
Communities gather to celebrate traditional Indigenous music, dance, crafts, and stories. The Laura Quinkan Dance Festival started in the early 1980s. It is one of Australia's longest-running Aboriginal cultural festivals.
