1879

Belyando local government division, headquartered in Clermont, created.

Broadsound local government division formed.

The Wangaratta divisional board formed, 16 years after the town of Bowen was proclaimed a municipality. 

Cairns local government division proclaimed.

Local government was instituted in the Cardwell region, though the authority covered an unworkably large area.

Dalrymple local government division formed. 

Hann Shire created, covering the Palmer River goldfield with Maytown as its administrative centre. 

Daintree Shire created.

Port Douglas Roads Board became the Douglas local government division, extending northwards to Cape Tribulation.

Einasleigh local-government division established, subsequently Einasleigh Shire. 

Hann Division was proclaimed, with the divisional office at Maytown.

The first town allotments were sold in Ingham.

Captain Robert Watson with his wife, a servant and baby daughter, built a cottage on Lizard Island. Watson, was a beche-de-mer fisherman and during one of his absences Aborigines from the mainland attacked the cottage. Mrs. Watson, with her child and a Chinese servant, attempted to flee to the mainland in a barrel used for boiling beche-de-mer. The vessel floated away from the coast, and all three died of thirst nine days later on the Howick No 5 Island. Their bodies were found three months later along with Mrs Watson's diary. In retaliation, a punitive expedition was mounted against Aboriginal groups, with the victims almost certainly from the wrong tribal group.

November 

11 The Doonmunya Division was created on as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879. Etheridge 

Einasleigh Division, created



© Ian Hughes 2013