Mossman, Queensland

Mossman, Queensland

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Mossman, Queensland

For the collection of Horsedrawn Carriages see Mossman Collection

Mossman is a town of 1700 people in Far North Queensland, Australia, on the Mossman River. Originally known as Mosman ? the name was changed to avoid confusion with the Sydney suburb of Mosman ? it is located on the Captain Cook Highway 75 km north of the regional city of Cairns. Mossman Gorge, a popular attraction within Daintree National Park, is located west of town. Sugar cane farming is an important aspect of the local economy, with Mossman Central Mill, the only sugar mill in the district, processing the cane before sending it to Cairns for shipping domestically and internationally.

The establishment and subsequent growth of Cairns and the completion of the Cairns Railway up through the Barron Gorge in 1891, gave a more direct gateway to the hinterland but, at this period, it was found that the Mossman district contained suitable land for sugar-growing. The establishment of the sugar mill at Mossman formed the nucleus of the town, which grew at the expense of Port Douglas.

The district was served by two separate 2 foot (610 mm) gauge tramway systems^[1]. Both at one time handled passengers and general goods, as well as sugar cane. Mossman district owes its present prosperity to these tramways which pioneered the first reasonable transport in the neighbourhood, for trafficable roads followed later.

Mossman has five primary schools in its district and only one high school. Mossman was once a district of its own (Douglas Shire) but now is a part of the cairns district. Mossman is rich in sporting clubs such as the Mossman Sharks rugby leage club and the port douglas AFL club. Mossman has the cleanest water in Australia and is free from chlorine and flouride and comes straight from the Mossman gorge.