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The Douglas Shire Historical Society

The Douglas Shire Historical Society meets on the first Monday of every month, alternately in Port Douglas and Mossman at 2pm. We visit historic sites and hear presentations on local history. We encourage our members to research and present their findings or to share old photos.

Join the Society for a subscription of $10 p.a. or $15 for a family. To download a membership form click here for all other enquiries click here.

What the Society does:

  • Operates the Court House Museum, Port Douglas (you are welcome to join the roster as a volunteer attendant)
  • Conducts historic walks for groups along the heritage trail in Port Douglas
  • Researches and publishes local history books and bulletins
  • Collects local history papers, historic photographs and oral histories
  • Prepares and mounts poster displays for schools and the community
  • Promotes signposted historic walks in Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree Village


Our latest projects are:

  • Researching the location and recording details of old farm machinery in our area
  • A database of graves in the Port Douglas cemetery is in preparation
  • A guided walk through the Mossman cemetery is being researched

Resources & Credits

Many of the images contained on this site are from the State Library of Queensland, which holds the world's largest collection of photographic material relating to the history and development of Queensland and are credited as such.

Other reference sources are suggested for research:

Warning. This site may contain the names and images of Aboriginal and Islander people now deceased.
It also contains links to sites that may offend some viewers

Map of the region

Click to enlarge

Latest News

 HUGE BOOK FAIR

over Easter

at Port Douglas Court House Museum

Saturday and Sunday April 20 and 21

10am till 1pm

COME ALONG AND FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH ALL OUR PUBLICATIONS and MEET OTHER MEMBERS

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ADVANCE NOTICE

AGM ON MONDAY, MAY 13TH AT 2PM

at DSHS Resource Centre, Port Douglas.

At 3pm guest speakers Kerrie Jamieson and Andrea Falstein will tell stories of Port Douglas in the 1980s and the development that took place then 

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The Society is digitising its collection snd would like help.

Cataloguing and entering items into the new database are required.

Learn about our history at the same time.

Volunteers are also needed to help at the Court House Museum

To be involved with either of these 'jobs', please email infodouglashistory.orgau

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 NEW PUBLICATION

"Surviving Paradise" 

Another book by Pam Willis Burden in the series "Port's People and "Raindrops and Sugar Crops" featuring excerpts of oral histories recorded with locals from Douglas Shire.

Launched on Friday December 14th at Mossman Library and available at Mossman News and Whileaway, Port Douglas

or on-line at

infodouglashistory.orgau

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 Court House Museum

Re-opens; Sunday March 3

is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 1pm. It is always staffed by enthusiastic volunteers who are happy to answer your local history questions.

It is wheelchair accessible with a portable ramp kindly donated by John and Jocelyn White

Like our Facebook page.

We also have two blogs on line: 

infodshs.wordpress.com

and

www.DouglasShireHistory.wordpress.com

Visit the Port Douglas
Court House Museum

Wharf Street, Port Douglas
(beside the Police Station)

Open Tuesdays, Thursdays,
Saturdays and Sundays
From 10am to 1pm
Click to download brochure

Portable wheelchair ramp available, please ask the volunteer on duty.

Society's Awards