Can of words - Trivia

Enjoy reading of the background to some local historical features from the local area. Did you know....

Allamanda is the Hinchinbrook floral emblem (Botanical name: Allamanda Catharitica, variety Hendersonii). A native of the northern part of South America and introduced to Australia in the 19th century. It is an evergreen climber with large yellow trumpet-like flowers.

Bullocky Tom's Track which was blazed by Bullocky Tom (Thomas Andrews) connected Mt. Spec with the coast, following the southern slopes of Mt. Leach. The track went from near Crystal Creek to Shay's Guesthouse at Mt. Spec. At the time, on the northern bank of Big Saltwater Creek (now Crystal Creek) was a shack named 'Bullocky Tom', which was a well-known landmark. Bullocky Tom was buried at Crystal Creek.

Cordelia - A member of the famous McDowell pastoral family arrived in 1868 with a party, seeking a pastoral run on the Herbert River and camped near the site of the present township of Cordelia. With the party was an Italian woman, surname unknown Christian names, Caterina Cordelia. In addition to the township, there is a Caterina Creek and a Mt. Caterina Cordelia, now just Mt. Cordelia. The parish is also named Cordelia. So far now reason is available for the perpetuation of her name. In 1868, an man named O'Connell acquired land on the river bank opposite Mr. Cordelia and is credited as planting the first sugar cane.

Day Dawn Hotel - reconstructed by J. T. Abbott in 1886 from the Telegraph Hotel (which was originally built in 1885) as a two-storied building and was named by Abbott after a hotel called the 'Day Dawn' he had owned in Townsville. The Day Dawn was eminently successful in catering for the public and recognized as the premier establishment of its kind in Ingham. On 1st January 1944 a poem called 'The Pub Without Beer' appeared in the North Queensland Register. This poem had been written by Dan Sheahan on the occasion of the Day Dawn Hotel running out of beer when visiting American servicemen had drunk up the 'quota'. This poem was later made into a song by Gordon Parsons and sung by Slim Dusty, and has become famous the world over. During the Bicentennary, the National Committee gave the Hinchinbrook Shire Council a grant to have a book written about Dan Sheahan and a plaque put on the wall of the Lees Hotel which now stands on the site of the old Day Dawn Hotel.

First European Births

Murphy - the first birth of a European child officially recorded in the Valley was a daughter to an Irish couple, Patrick and Mary Murphy on 19th April 1866 at Vale of Herbert Station.
Hampton - the second European child was born January 1870 - a daughter, Emma, to the station storekeeper Thomas Hampton and his wife Elizabeth (English migrants).
Mercer - a son to John and Rebecca Mercer on 25th August 1870 named John.
Toohey - a son to an Irish couple, James and Kate Toohey at the Vale of Herbert. Toohey was employed as a labourer.
Berrezenskey - a son to a Polish/German couple, Emmanuel and Justina Berrezenskey in September 1872 at Macknade Plantation. This child died after a few years, but the couple had other children.
Hoffensetz - a son (Julius) to a Danish couple, Harald and wife. Born on Christmas Day. This name is derived from Juul - Danish for Christmas.

Haycock Island was so called for its circular shape. It is mid-channel in Hinchinbrook Channel and is remarkable for the fact that the tides meet here - one coming from the northern end and the other from the south. At the point where the tides meet, a small whirlpool is formed which has churned out a very deep hole, forming a favourite fishing ground. This hole and the surrounding mangroves form the camping places of the Nutmeg Pigeon (Torres Straits Pigeon). Haycock Island was named by Capt. G. H. Ricards of the 'Hecate' while engaged on hydrographic work en route to England in 1863.