Douglas Shire Historical Society

The Douglas Shire Historical Society announced that their Court House Museum in Port Douglas is temporarily closed in response to the current pandemic as Museums and Galleries QLD is encouraging all volunteer-run museums to colse to the public.  These recommendations recognise that volunteer groups are largely comprised of an older demographic and refer to the risk to which older people are exposed to if they contract the coronavirus.  They are sorry to inconvenience their visitors.  The meeting scheduled for Monday 6 April has also been cancelled due to current health advisories.  Hopefully in this year, the group will try to achieve a Queensland Heritage Register listing for the 'Dixie's Shed' (the former Customs Boat House for which Dixie May was Port Douglas' last employee there) which, together with the Douglas Shire Council, the Society were able to save from demolition by the then owner Queensland Fisheries in 2015.  For any queries, please e-mail the Society.

Cairns Historical Society

The Cairns Historical Society's Research Centre and Museum is closed to the public from 24 March 2020.  Rest assured they are still working.  If you have a history research or photographic request, please e-mail and they will follow it up.  The next set of local history lectures which was to be held on the 18 April has had to be cancelled because of the Covid19.  These lectures will still be presented when it is appropriate for the Local History lecture series to resume.  Nominations are still being called for this year's SE Stephens History Award with the closing date being the end of June.  The Museum will be working to shift their child-friendly activities online.  So please keep an eye on their social feeds and on the website for updates.  They will keep you informed but due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, they are not announcing a re-opening date at this time and will provide update on a week-to-week basis on their website and social media channels.  Keep an eye on these pages as they are exploring a range of ways to stay in contact and to save you all from Netflix.  

Cooktown Historical Society

The Cooktown History Centre will close their doors to the public for the foreseeable future.  This does not mean that they won't be manning their e-mails or taking research requests or book orders.  Those volunteers who wish to and feel well, will continue to work behind the close doors.  The Cooktown Historical Society apologises in advance for the inconvenience but are sure you all will understand.  It has also been announced that the big Cooktown Exop 2020 will be postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.  Plans are under way for the rescheduled of the event which was to be held in July to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the landing of Captain James Cook and the first recorded act of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.