Captain Cook's Landing Place
Tongatapu
Captain Cook's Landing Place is a historically significant heritage site located in the village of Seventeen Seventy, Queensland, Australia. It commemorates the landing of British explorer Lieutenant James Cook on 24 May 1770, marking his first landing on the Queensland coast during his voyage aboard HMS Endeavour. Cook, accompanied by botanist Joseph Banks and others, explored the area’s natural environment, noting its dry, sandy soils, unique flora including coastal ironbark trees, and diverse bird species. The site is near Round Hill Creek and Bustard Bay, where Cook's landing took place. The surrounding area, including the Joseph Banks Environmental Park, preserves the first botanical specimens collected in Queensland, highlighting its scientific importance. Over the centuries, the region saw visits from other notable explorers such as Matthew Flinders and Captain Phillip King, and later development included a lighthouse at Bustard Head in 1867 and early European settlements. A monument commemorating Cook's landing was erected in 1926, and the township was officially named Seventeen Seventy in the 1930s to honor this historic event. Today, the site serves as a cultural and historical attraction celebrating early European exploration of Australia’s eastern coast.
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Tip: The best time to visit Captain Cook's Landing Place is during the dry season (May to October) for pleasant weather and clearer skies. Visitors are encouraged to book tours or accommodations in Seventeen Seventy in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. While there are no specific ticket requirements for the landing site itself, purchasing combined tickets or passes for nearby attractions can offer discounts. Exploring the Joseph Banks Environmental Park nearby can enrich the visit with insights into the area's unique botanical heritage.
Interesting facts
- •Lieutenant James Cook made eleven landings on Australia's eastern seaboard, ten of which were in Queensland.
- •The first botanical specimens collected in Queensland were gathered near this site and are preserved in the Joseph Banks Environmental Park.
- •A monument commemorating Cook's landing was erected in 1926 following a public appeal supported by the Royal Geographical Society of Queensland.
- •The township of Seventeen Seventy was named to highlight the year of Cook's landing, reinforcing the area's historical significance.
History
Captain Cook's Landing Place marks the spot where Lieutenant James Cook first landed on the Queensland coast on 24 May 1770 during his voyage on HMS Endeavour.
This was Cook's second landing in Australia and the first in Queensland.
The area was later surveyed and named Seventeen Seventy in the 1930s to commemorate this historic event.
Over time, the site gained recognition for its scientific value due to the botanical specimens collected by Joseph Banks and others.
A commemorative monument was erected in 1926, and the surrounding land was reserved as a recreation area in 1927.
The region also saw visits from other explorers such as Matthew Flinders and Captain Phillip King in the 19th century.
Place Guide
Cook Memorial Cairn1926
A monument erected in 1926 on a point overlooking Bustard Bay, commemorating Lieutenant James Cook's first landing in Queensland. It serves as a focal point for visitors to reflect on the site's historical importance.
Joseph Banks Environmental Park1989
A protected area preserving the original botanical specimens collected by Joseph Banks and his team during Cook's landing expedition. The park features native flora representative of the 18th-century landscape.
