Cook Shire Council
The Heart of Cape York Peninsula
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Cook Shire News
Cook Shire announces 2026 Australia Day Ambassador, record nominations and Citizenship Ceremony
Cook Shire Council is proud to announce Professor Peter Timms as the 2026 Australia Day Ambassador, as the community comes together to celebrate the Australia Day Awards and Citizenship Ceremony on Monday 26 January 2026 in Cooktown. Professor Timms is a nationally...
Seven Seas Navigator to visit Cooktown
Cooktown is set to welcome passengers and crew from the Seven Seas Navigator cruise ship on Friday 16 January 2026, weather permitting. The ship has 496 passengers and 365 crew on board, with the first tender scheduled to arrive at the Cooktown Wharf at 12pm, bringing...
Wet season reminder: Protect yourself against melioidosis
As we move through the wet season in Far North Tropical Queensland, Cook Shire Council is reminding residents, property owners and visitors to be aware of melioidosis, a rare but potentially serious bacterial infection that occurs naturally in soil and water across...
Fill your own sandbags now at two locations
Free sandbags are now available to residents in Cooktown, Ayton, Rossville, Bloomfield and Helenvale as a low pressure system off the coast is forecast to bring rain and thunderstorms to Far North Queensland and Australia's northern coastline. Cooktown residents can...
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Upcoming Events
19 Jan @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pmBall Games at John Street Oval
20 Jan @ 10:30 am - 12:30 pmSplash N’ Play at Cooktown Swimming Pool
20 Jan @ 4:00 pm - 6:00 pmFun Soccer
Commitment to Community
Cook Shire Services
Animals & Pets
Pets and domestic animals can be much-loved members of your household but can also…
Environment and Health
Environmental Health encompasses all aspects of the built and natural environment that can impact human health…
Council Facilities
From workshops and classes, to private weddings and corporate functions.
Cemeteries
For funeral planning information, please contact us. You can view a map of the Cooktown Cemetery here.
Disaster Management
Queensland’s disaster management features groups at the State, District and Local level.
Waste Management
Kerbside Refuse Calendar, Recycling tips, Waster Transfer Stations and more.
Biosecurity
Biosecurity is a targeted effort to prevent, control and recover from the impacts of invasive plants and animals.
Libraries
Cook Shire Council have libraries in Cooktown, Bloomfield, Lakeland, Laura and Coen.
Local Laws
Local Laws govern most of Council’s roles and responsibilities including parking, animal control, overgrown allotments and illegal camping.
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Cook Shire is the largest land area shire in Queensland. From the Bloomfield River in the south to just north of the Jardine River, it covers more than 100,000km2 and occupies 80 per cent of Cape York Peninsula.
Cook Shire is a vibrant area, from the main township of Cooktown to smaller outlying communities rich in indigenous history, agriculture, tourism and arts.