Douglas Shire historical society reaches impressive milestone

THREE DECADES

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The hardworking group from the Douglas Shire historical society. Picture: Supplied

The Historical Society will celebrate the 30th anniversary of its founding next Monday at its latest AGM.

The Society formed in 1994 when Port Douglas Court House returned to its original site in Wharf Street and opened as a museum, with official incorporation happening on May 11.

The Court House had fallen into disrepair when the police vacated it in 1961 and the Department of Works hoped to demolish the building and resume the site on the Port Douglas police reserve.

Betty Whiting, proprietor of the Courthouse Hotel with her husband Albert, decided to save the building and in 1968 had it moved to vacant land behind the hotel.

She used it to store her valuable wine collection until a cyclone unroofed the structure and rain pelted in. All the labels floated off the bottles, so she didn’t know which were more valuable. They say she just had to drink them.

Her dream was to establish a museum for Port Douglas, hopefully in the Court House, and she entrusted her nephew Noel Weare with this vision.

With Noel’s tireless work with the Port Douglas Restoration Society, finally the original Court House site was excised from the Police Reserve and work began to raise funds to restore the old building.

In July 1993 the Court House was returned to its original 1879 site under the trusteeship of the Douglas Shire Council and restoration began.

The Douglas Shire Historical Society was formed then with 23 members. Noel Weare was elected inaugural president, David Rex from a long-time resident Mossman family was vice-president and Billie Lloyd was honorary secretary/treasurer. 

The Society continues to meet on the first Monday of the month. Guest speakers elaborate on details of times gone by with active participation from their audience. Members take a keen interest in researching the history of our shire and assist in the protection of cultural heritage sites. Many publications by members are available to purchase.

Volunteers open the museum on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays between 10 and 1pm and are happy to chat to visitors and discuss local history. A video is available of Ellen Thomson’s trial and people sit in the jury benches to watch.

Next Monday's AGM is at Mossman CWA at 2pm. Secretary Lynn Anich will talk about the founding of the Society. Everybody is welcome to join in the birthday celebration at afternoon tea.

Happy 30th Birthday to the Douglas Shire Historical Society.

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