| Port Douglas Queensland |
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Four Mile Beach |
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Port Douglas
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| Population: | 948[1] | ||||||
| Postcode: | 4877 | ||||||
| Elevation: | 4 m (13 ft) | ||||||
| Location: | |||||||
| LGA: | Cairns Region | ||||||
| State District: | Cook | ||||||
| Federal Division: | Leichhardt | ||||||
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Port Douglas is a town in Far North Queensland, Australia, approximately 70 km (40 mi) north of Cairns. Its permanent population was 948 residents in 2006.[1] The town's population can often double, however, with the influx of tourists during the peak tourism season May–September. The town is named in honour of former Premier of Queensland, John Douglas. Port Douglas developed quickly based on the mining industry. Other parts of the area were established with timber cutting occurring in the area surrounding the Daintree River and with settlement starting to occur on lots around the Mossman River by 1880.
Previous names for the town included Terrigal, Island Point, Port Owen and Salisbury. The town is situated adjacent to two World Heritage areas, the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
Port Douglas was No. 3 on Australian Traveller magazine's list of 100 Best Towns In Australia.[2]
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The town is within the Federal electorate of Leichhardt, and within the State electorate of Cook. At local level, it is part of the Cairns Region.
The Port Douglas township was established in 1877 after the discovery of gold at Hodgkinson River by James Venture Mulligan. It grew quickly, and at its peak Port Douglas had a population of 12,000 and 27 hotels. With the construction of the Mulligan Highway it serviced towns as far away as Herberton.
When the Kuranda Railway from Cairns to Kuranda was completed in 1891, the importance of Port Douglas dwindled along with its population. A cyclone in 1911 which demolished all but two buildings in the town also had a significant impact. At its nadir in 1960 the town, by then little more than a fishing village, had a population of 100.
In the mid-1980s, tourism boomed in the region after investor Christopher Skase financed the construction of the world-class Sheraton Mirage.
On 5 July 1943, a RAAF Vultee Vengeance (Serial Number A27-217) crash landed on the beach near Port Douglas.
In November 1996 United States President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton chose the town as their only vacation stop on their historic visit to Australia. When dining at a local restaurant they witnessed a couple's wedding certificate. On a return visit on 11 September 2001, the then ex-President was again dining at the Salsa Bar and Grill, a local restaurant, when he was advised of the 11 September attacks. He returned to the United States the following day.[3]
The town has enjoyed a steady influx of full-time residents since its 'rebirth', with most newcomers arriving from Australia's south, namely Victoria and Tasmania.
On 4 September 2006, entertainer a.k.a. "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin died at Batt Reef, off Port Douglas, after a stingray barb went through his chest into his heart while Irwin and his crew were filming a documentary called The Ocean's Deadliest.[4] Irwin was filmed snorkelling directly above the stingray when it lashed him with its tail, embedding its toxic barb. Irwin died almost immediately. This event was widely reported both in Australia and overseas.[5]
Every year Port Douglas attracts tourist and locals alike to two significant festival periods. The Port Douglas Carnivale is on around the end of May and runs for 10 days over two weekends beginning with the Macrossan Street Parade attracting over 10,000 people[6]. The second festival period is held in October and November and begins with Porttoberfest North Queensland's own Beer Festival around the middle of October. In late October the Go Troppo Arts Festival[7], kicks off and ends with The Sunset in the Park Music Festival held on the last weekend of October .
In November Port Douglas turns into an athletes' village to host The Great Barrier Reef Marathon Festival[8]. Steve Moneghetti is the event ambassador and competitors get the chance to race against the Marathon Olympian in the Steve Moneghetti Invitational Half Marathon. Both periods celebrate and embrace the regions unique tropical island like lifestyle.
In 2012, Port Douglas will be the pole position for a Total Solar Eclipse. This phenomenon will take place at 6:38 am on 14 November 2012. The total eclipse will be visible from approximately Innisfail in the south to Cedar Bay National Park in the North. Port Douglas is right in its path. Thousands are expected to converge at this unique destination to see the event.
The first ever Solar Eclipse Marathon is being organised in Port Douglas to coincide with the Total Solar Eclipse in November 2012. This 42.195 km Marathon will race over 2,000 competitors starting at 6:41am on the morning of 14 November as the first rays of the sun re-emerge from behind the moon thus incorporating the Eclipse as the worlds first intergalatic starting gun.[9]
Port Douglas has a tropical climate with hot summers and warm winters, with heavy rainfall mainly occurring January through March, the wettest month of the year typically being February.
| Climate data for Port Douglas, Queensland | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30.3 (86.5) |
30.1 (86.2) |
29.5 (85.1) |
28.3 (82.9) |
26.7 (80.1) |
25.1 (77.2) |
24.6 (76.3) |
25.3 (77.5) |
26.7 (80.1) |
28.3 (82.9) |
29.5 (85.1) |
30.3 (86.5) |
27.9 (82.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 23.7 (74.7) |
23.5 (74.3) |
22.8 (73.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
19.5 (67.1) |
17.7 (63.9) |
16.8 (62.2) |
17.1 (62.8) |
18.6 (65.5) |
20.8 (69.4) |
22.3 (72.1) |
23.3 (73.9) |
20.6 (69.1) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 401.6 (15.811) |
429.3 (16.902) |
425.7 (16.76) |
204.8 (8.063) |
70.8 (2.787) |
47.3 (1.862) |
25.6 (1.008) |
24.1 (0.949) |
32.0 (1.26) |
52.0 (2.047) |
107.9 (4.248) |
212.2 (8.354) |
2,029 (79.88) |
| Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 13.7 | 14.4 | 14.3 | 11.3 | 8.0 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 5.2 | 7.6 | 10.1 | 102.7 |
| Source: Bureau of Meteorology [10] | |||||||||||||
Kitesurfing is popular at the southern end of Four Mile Beach, particularly during the winter months when trade winds blow from the South.
Port Douglas is near the Great Barrier Reef. Numerous companies run daily trips from the marina to the outer reef and the Low Isles for scuba diving and snorkelling. Port Douglas is also well known for its many restaurants, golf courses, and five star resorts.