Ernest Riordan elected Member for Bowen. Labor 1936–1944
Tourist resort with an airstrip opened on Dunk Island, continuing until 1942 when the island was resumed for radar purposes. The resort facilities were revived after the war, ultimately coming into the hands of TAA and P&O.
St John Bosco Catholic school opens in Collinsville.
Methodist church built in Garbutt.
The Hayman Island lease was transferred to Bob and Bert Hallam, who established the Great Barrier Reef Game Fish Angling Club in 1935, attracting local and international game fishing enthusiasts who arrived by coastal steamer. The resort was a rudimentary affair with basic accommodation, beach sand floors, central dining room and lounge, cold showers in hessian shelters.
St Joseph's school was moved from Norris Street to present location in Mundingburra.
The tramline from Irvinebank to the Mareeba-Chillagoe railway line was closed. The lines were pulled up to be reused in 1941.
The first tourist train from ran from Cairns to Kuranda, using four longitudinal seating carriages.
April
11 Brampton Island was gazetted as a national park. There were further gazettals over the years as the area of the park varied with changing lease structures.
May
5 Zane Grey, American novelist, filmmaker and big game fisherman left Sydney in the Manunda on May 5, 1936 with a staff of twenty who camped on Hayman island.
July
1 A new special lease was issued over the whole of Brampton Island for 20 years in the name of Arthur Busuttin.
28 Zane Grey and staff leave Hayman Island.
November
Hallam brothers applied for and were granted a liquor licence on Hayman Island.