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Mossman Gorge
Location
Next to Daintree National Park at the entrance to Mossman Gorge, Cape York, 80 km north of Cairns, 4 km from Mossman and about 25 km by road from Port Douglas to the east.
The community is located on land that is a combination of an Aboriginal Reserve (26.983 ha) and a freehold lot (3.887 ha), within the Cairns Regional Council area.
Area
0.4 square km
Population
156
Language
Yalanji: there are several dialects within this language.
Settlement history
In 1873, George Elphinstone Dalrymple led the first exploration deep into the Daintree River valley and named the Mossman and Daintree Rivers. A village was established in 1876. In 1896 the first sugarcane plantation was established in the area. In the following year the Mossman sugar mill was opened.
In 1883 John Dorrens Johnston established Mango Park on portions 198 and 206 at Mossman. He later donated 64 acres of land at Mossman Gorge insisting it become a reserve for the local Aboriginal community.
In 1915 the Chief Protector of Aborigines obtained unconditional leases for blocks of land that form the current Mossman Gorge Community. They were gazetted as Aboriginal Reserves in 1916. A Lutheran Church Mission was established on the reserve in the 1920s.
As a result of various government policies and economic changes, Kuku Yalanji people gradually moved to the Gorge Reserve from their traditional camps at sites like Jinkalmu, Brie-Brie and the Junction on the Mossman River.
Community services
Mossman Gorge's community services include the nearby Douglas Shire Multi-Purpose Health Service (Mossman Hospital), the Mossman Preschool, Mossman Primary School and High School. A local Catholic school is also located close by.
Local police services are provided from Mossman.
Mossman Gorge is a trial site for the Cape York Welfare Reforms.
More information
Last reviewed: 21 January 2009
