The Calophyllum Shore – A Cardwell Memoir is our Historical Society’s first publication and another 150th anniversary project.
Launched in April 2011, it offers a detailed insight into the intriguing history of Cardwell, the first shipping port in Australia’s far north east.
The author, the late Sandy Hubinger (1912-2005) was born and died in Cardwell and his four grandparents were among Cardwell’s pioneers in the 1860s.
The book has a 16 page index of family names and begins with a unique local perspective into pre-pioneering history when Aboriginal communities were the only occupiers of this land.
It also traces the local route of the landmark Edmund Kennedy expedition in 1848. The Calophyllum Shore is on sale at several outlets including our museum but can be purchased now via an online order.
Sunbeam House beside Highway One just north of Cardwell became an iconic symbol of the district’s history until collapsed by cyclone Yasi in February 2011.
It was built in the 1890s as part of a 19th century meatworks in Cardwell, as a smoke-house to cure tongues.
The remains of the 120 year old building have been gathered and preserved by our Historical Society which has lodged a development application with Cassowary Coast Regional Council to re-erect Sunbeam House.
Our Society has raised funding from Newman’s Own, part of the philanthropic foundation of the late American actor Paul Newman, and expects to begin rebuilding Sunbeam House shortly.
The landmark site of Sunbeam House, beside the highway just north of Sunbeam Creek, is also notable for a large gum tree which earlier Aboriginal elders told the Hubinger family, was growing there when the Edmund Kennedy Expedition passed by it in 1848.
The gum was reduced to little more than a very large and tall stump by Yasi, but has since regenerated.
