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Cairns Pioneers

The following list identifies some of the people who developed North Queensland. They all played a major role in Cairns becoming the City that it is today. There are many other people who played their own part in the history of the region, this list simply identifies the best known.

Mr Christie Palmerston	Palmerston Range Well known northern bushman and explorer.
Mr Henry Abbott	Abbott Street in Cairns The first Land Commissioner and Surveyor. Came to Cairns in the early days and established a bank.
Mr Norman McLeod	McLeod Street in Cairns The first postmaster in Cairns
Mr Brinsley Sheridan	Sheridan Street in Cairns The Police Magistrate in Cardwell who was given the job of choosing the site for the City of Cairns.
Mr John Atherton	Atherton Tabeland, town of Atherton Famed early explorer of the region
Mr Alexander Douglas	Port Douglas Seaman, explorer and policeman famed for opening up much of the far north's most rugged territory.
Ms Claudia Lakeland	Lakeland Downs National Park Renowned throughout North Queensland as a bushwoman and an unbeatable shot with a rifle.
Mr John Newell	Newell St in Cairns Founder of Herberton on the Atherton Tableland.
Mr Christie Palmerston	Palmerston Range An adventurer known as a mystery man in North Queensland. Made his name as an explorer in the harshest of terrain.
Dr Hugo Flecker	(1) Flecker Botanical Gardens (2) Box Jellyfish - Chironex Fleckeri As well known general practitioner who helped identify the box jellyfish in the 1950's. Also a keen botanist, hence the involvement in the Botanical Gardens.
Dr David Thomatis	Thomatis Creek (north of Cairns) Former Headmaster at Townsville Grammar School who moved to Cairns in 1884 and proceeded to develop a farm to grow cotton.
Dr Edward Koch	Monument at Abbott and Spence St Head of the Cairns Base Hospital (in front of Cairns Casino) Head of the Cairns Base Hospital and medial pioneer for the region at the turn of the century. Made considerable progress on the identification and treatment of malaria.
Mr Henry MacDonnell	Established law firm Mac Donnells Credited with bringing legal representation to the region at the turn of the century. Company still operates today.
Mr George Dalrymple	Dalrymple Range Often considered the "father of North Queensland" Dalrymple was a famous pioneer and developer in the region.
Mr Edward Kennedy	Kennedy Range Well known explorer from Rockhampton to Cape York.
Mr Richard Daintree	Daintree River and National Park Discovered gold at the Gilbert River.
Mr Frank Jardine	Jardine River One of the earliest and most influential pioneers with a questionable attitude towards Aboriginals.
Mr Alexander Draper	Draper Street in Cairns Known as the "father of Cairns" due to his involvement in so many organisations and businesses in the early days of Cairns history.
Mr William McCormack	McCormack Street in Cairns Early unionist who helped develop the mining industry in the region, going on to become the State Premier of Queensland in 1919.
Mr Thomas Fitzgerald	Founder of Innisfail Innisfail was formerly known as Geraldton (approximately 95 kilometres south of Cairns).
Rev John Flynn	Royal Flying Doctor Founder of the now famous Royal Flying Doctor Service (1928)