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A good starting point is the Post Office in Charlotte St. Located at the intersection of Green Street, this heritage building was erected in 1887. Strolling east you pass the Cooktown School of Art Society's "Elizabeth Guzsely Gallery" with its fine collection by local artists.
The Cooktown RSL Club was built in 1885 as the Daintree Divisional Board Council Hall. In 1903 it became the shire council hall. Then in 1919 the Hann and Daintree Divisional Boards amalgamated and became known as the Cook Shire, who operated here until 1932. Past the Cooktown Bowls Club, a recent addition, where visitors are welcome to join in social bowls, to the Lions Park. A small market is held here on Saturday morning.
Across the street to the right is the Jackey Jackey Store. Built in 1886 by Joseph Neuman as a general store and living quarters, it was part of a flourishing trade between New Guinea, Cooktown, and southern markets. Neuman arrived in Cooktown in 1873 and made his start carting goods by horses and dray to the Palmer River Goldfields. Though now a private residence, the owners display memorabilia of Old Cooktown in the former shop window.
From the park you will pass the Old Town Well, the Cairn to Edward Kennedy, who landed at Rockingham Bay in May 1840 on an expedition to explore Cape York and was fatally speared in December, and come to the Cook Monument and Cannon. The monument dating from 1887 commemorates the landing in 1770. The cannon was brought to Cooktown at the request of the town council. On April 10th 1885 Cooktown council carried the following motion. "A wire be sent to the Premier in Brisbane requesting the supply of arms, ammunition, and competent officers to take charge against the threat of Russian invasion." The cannon, cast in Scotland in 1803, 3 cannonballs, 2 rifles, and 1 officer were sent. It is still fired on the Queen's Birthday Weekend in June.
Continue on to Bicentenial Park which was opened in 1988 and is the setting for the annual re-enactment of Cook's Landing. BP Australia donated the James Cook Statue to the people of Cooktown. The bronze statue is the work of the Australian sculptor Stanley Hammond. A large granite rock on the foreshore bears a plaque with the inscription "This cairn marks the spot where Captain James Cook beached his barque "HMS Endeavour" in the year 1770".
On to the Milibi Wall (the Story Wall) built by Gungarde Aboriginal Community, the Queens Steps, and the statue of Mick the Miner commemorating the Palmer River Gold Rush to the Cooktown Wharf. Here you can try casting a line, or simply "chat with the locals". Just past the wharf on a walking path is the Powder Magazine. Used for the storage of explosives, it is interesting to note no nails were used in its construction in 1874. It is believed to be the oldest brick building in Cape York.
