Members of Queensland Parliament are now paid. Until this point, with unpaid Parliamentary representatives, were not paid until 1886, members of the working class were effectively excluded from colonial politics.
Town lots in Atherton were sold early in the year.
John Drysdale arrives at the Pioneer mill. While Drysdale's brothers had extensive sugar interests, John's engineering expertise brought significant developments that shaped the direction of sugar cultivation in the district when he adapted the Naughton tube or 'Abyssinian spear' to tap underground aquifers.
Ayr State School opened.
Cooktown's heritage-listed lighthouse on Grassy Hill completed.
Queensland government decides to build a railway from Cloncurry to Normanton. The discovery of gold at Croydon prompted a 21 km deviation to the new town, which ended up being the only section of the line that was actually built. It survives as the Gulflander.
An unsuccessful village settlement was started at Allumbah Pocket (Yungaburra).
Mackay's Queens Park opens.
Railway connection from north of Eton to Mackay was extended across Sandy Creek into Eton to coincide with the opening of the North Eton central sugar mill.
Golden Gate mine near Croydon was first worked.
An English company, Mount Albion Silver Mining and Smelting, was brought into Montalbion tin and silver operation.
Irvinebank was gazetted for land sales.
Hermit Park and Causeway Hotels were operating in Hermit Park.
Primary school opened in Irvinebank.
Government railway line from west of Mackay to Mirani opened.
January
Hope Valley Mission was founded by Lutheran Missionary John Flierl, who had been on his way to New Guinea but was held up in Cooktown, where he began work amongst the Guugu Yimithirr clans. He established on the Cape Bedford Aboriginal Reserve, choosing a spot on the bay north of Cape Bedford which he called Elim.
May
10 Premier of Queensland Sir Samuel Griffith, used a silver spade to turn the first sod on the railway to the hinterland. Celebrations involving almost the entire population of Cairns lasted all day and long into the night.
November
P. C. Smith relinquished the contract for Section One of Cairns-Kuranda railway. It was taken over by McBride and Co., but they too had packed it in by January 1887. Section one was finally completed by the Queensland Government.