An official government landing party of 20 led by George Elphinstone Dalrymple came ashore in Rockingham Bay to settle Port Hinchinbrook (later renamed Cardwell) on January 21st 1864.
They were under the direction of Governor Bowen and sailed from Port Denison (Bowen) on the three masted schooner ‘Policeman’ owned and skippered by Captain Walter David Tayler Powell.