Mossman, Queensland
Encyclopedia
For the collection of Horsedrawn Carriages see Mossman Collection
Mossman is a town in Far North Queensland
, Australia
, on the Mossman River. At the 2006 census
, Mossman had a population of 1,740.
Originally known as Mosman — the name was changed to avoid confusion with the Sydney
suburb of Mosman
— it is located on the Captain Cook Highway
75 km north of the regional city of Cairns
, and 15 km east of the Mount Carbine Tableland
. Mossman Gorge
, a popular attraction within Daintree National Park
, is located west of town. Sugar cane farming is an important aspect of the local economy, with Mossman Central Mill, the only sugar mill in the district, processing the cane before sending it to Cairns
for shipping domestically and internationally.
The establishment and subsequent growth of Cairns and the completion of the Cairns Railway up through the Barron Gorge
in 1891, gave a more direct gateway to the hinterland but, at this period, it was found that the Mossman district contained suitable land for sugar-growing. The establishment of the sugar mill at Mossman formed the nucleus of the town, which grew at the expense of Port Douglas.
The district was served by two separate 2 foot (610 mm) gauge tramway systems. Both at one time handled passengers and general goods, as well as sugar cane. Mossman district owes its present prosperity to these tramways which pioneered the first reasonable transport in the neighbourhood, for trafficable roads followed later.
Mossman has five primary schools in its district and only one high school. Mossman was once the seat of the former Shire of Douglas
but now falls under the amalgamted Cairns Region which is presently administered from both Cairns and Mossman. Mossman is rich in sporting clubs such as the Mossman Sharks rugby league club and the Port Douglas AFL club.
Mossman Collection
The Mossman Carriage Collection is a museum housing a collection of horse-drawn vehicles in Stockwood Park, Luton, Bedfordshire. It is the largest collection of such vehicles in the United Kingdom, and includes original vehicles dating from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.-About:The collection...
Mossman is a town in Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland
Far North Queensland, or FNQ, is the northernmost part of the Australian state of Queensland. The region, which contains a large section of the Tropical North Queensland area, stretches from the city of Cairns north to the Torres Strait...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, on the Mossman River. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Mossman had a population of 1,740.
Originally known as Mosman — the name was changed to avoid confusion with the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
suburb of Mosman
Mosman, New South Wales
Mosman is a suburb on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Mosman is located 8 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman.-Localities:In February...
— it is located on the Captain Cook Highway
Captain Cook Highway
Captain Cook Highway is a short Queensland highway that starts in Cairns and ends in Mossman, where it joins Mossman-Daintree Road, which continues to Daintree.Captain Cook Highway is used by many tourists to travel to Port Douglas north of Cairns...
75 km north of the regional city of Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
, and 15 km east of the Mount Carbine Tableland
Mount Carbine Tableland
The Mount Carbine Tableland is a plateau in Far North Queensland, Australia. Part of the Great Dividing Range, it lies in the Shire of Mareeba 15 km west of Mossman, and 1460 km north-west of Brisbane, at an altitude of about 1165 m above sea level...
. Mossman Gorge
Mossman Gorge, Queensland
Mossman Gorge is located in the southern part of the Daintree National Park, 80 kilometres north of the regional town of Cairns. It also lies nearby the farming town of Mossman.It is part of the traditional homeland of the indigenous tribe of Kuku Yulanji....
, a popular attraction within Daintree National Park
Daintree National Park
Daintree is a national park in Far North Queensland, Australia, northwest of Brisbane and northwest of Cairns. It was founded in 1981 and is part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland. In 1988 it was granted listing as a World Heritage List...
, is located west of town. Sugar cane farming is an important aspect of the local economy, with Mossman Central Mill, the only sugar mill in the district, processing the cane before sending it to Cairns
Cairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
for shipping domestically and internationally.
Barron Gorge National Park
Barron Gorge National Park is a national park in Queensland , 1,404 km northwest of Brisbane and 2 km from Kuranda. Barron Gorge is part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The Kuranda Scenic Railway line passes through the park with a station at Barron Falls. One train runs from...
in 1891, gave a more direct gateway to the hinterland but, at this period, it was found that the Mossman district contained suitable land for sugar-growing. The establishment of the sugar mill at Mossman formed the nucleus of the town, which grew at the expense of Port Douglas.
The district was served by two separate 2 foot (610 mm) gauge tramway systems. Both at one time handled passengers and general goods, as well as sugar cane. Mossman district owes its present prosperity to these tramways which pioneered the first reasonable transport in the neighbourhood, for trafficable roads followed later.
Mossman has five primary schools in its district and only one high school. Mossman was once the seat of the former Shire of Douglas
Shire of Douglas
The Shire of Douglas was a Local Government Area in Far North Queensland. It was located on the coast north of the city of Cairns. The shire, administered from the town of Mossman, covered an area of , and existed as a local government entity from 1880 until 2008, when it amalgamated with the City...
but now falls under the amalgamted Cairns Region which is presently administered from both Cairns and Mossman. Mossman is rich in sporting clubs such as the Mossman Sharks rugby league club and the Port Douglas AFL club.