Below is a brief overview of some of Bowen’s fascinating history. Want to learn more? The Bowen Museum has detailed accounts of the early years, right through to modern times. Our opening hours are below, as well as contact information for additional enquiries.
Pre European Settlement
The Juru aboriginal tribe roamed the locality.
Captain Cook sailed past naming the local island Cape Gloucester, mistaking it for a cape.
The town, (temporally named Port Denison) was settled with parties from Cpt. Sinclair by sea and Mr. George Elphinstone Dalrymple’s overland group – April, 1861. Captain Sinclair was declared the first Harbour Master in recognition of his exploratory work. Customs house officially opened. Closed 1994 – served for 133 years. First Dray to arrive from the Inland country for supplies on 10/7/1861. Port Denison was named Bowen after the first Queensland Governor, Sir George Ferguson Bowen.
James Morrill, who lived 17 years with an aboriginal tribe, met shepherds in the Clare area and settled in Bowen. Died 1865. The first immigrant ship ‘Wansfell’ arrived with new settlers from England and Ireland.
During Bowen’s first 35 years, several ships arrived carrying new settlers. Life was difficult with a number of cyclones and floods impacting the new residents. Nevertheless, the town grew quickly with the establishment of the jetty, town hall, schools, hospital, hotels and the North Head Lighthouse.
The Wangaratta Shire Council is formed in 1902, followed by the establishment of the ‘Bowen Independent’ newspaper by Mr W.H Darwen in 1903. The first reticulated water service arrived in 1911 and the railway between Bowen and Townsville opened in 1913. The farming community was well established and the first coal was shipped from Collinsville to the Bowen Jetty. In 1920 the Bowen Hospital opened on Hospital Hill, where it remains to this day.
Bowen continued to expand and connect with the wider region with the completion of the railway to Townsville. Electricity was connected and industry boomed. The first aerial survey of the Great Barrier Reef was completed. Mr Donald Bradman visited Bowen to play cricket!
During WW2 a Catalina base was established at the Front Beach. The Summergarden Theatre opened in 1951 and the Bowen Rotary Club was established.
The Bowen Historical Society began and the museum commenced at the private residence of Walter Cottrell in 1963. The Bowen Boat Harbour was officially opened. Mitchell’s comet, discovered by QB school master, Mr Ed Mitchell was named. Dr Peter Delamothe became Qld Attorney General. The foundation stone was laid for the Bowen Historical Society Museum in 1974 and officially opened in 1979. Extensions were carried out at the Bowen Museum in 1988.