Cooktown Re-enactment Association

25/10/2026

👏 A big thank you to The Lure Shop Tackleworld Cooktown

The Cooktown Re-enactment Association would like to say a huge thank you to Andrew and the team at The Lure Shop for their generous support of our Planning for the Future project.

They have kindly donated accommodation at Rich Views, their three-bedroom apartments above The Lure Shop, helping us keep project costs down and make the most of the funds available.

It's wonderful to have local businesses getting behind this important project, and we really appreciate their generosity and support.

If you're interested in staying at Rich Views, you can find more information here: https://www.thelureshop.net.au/rich-views-cooktown/

Thank you to The Lure Shop and Rich Views Apartments! ❤️

For the best views in town visit Rich Views Cooktown in the heart of Cooktown. Short term holiday accommodation, two 3-bedroom fully self-contained luxury apartments located in Cooktown’s C*D conveniently in walking distance to Cooktown’s iconic pubs, clubs, restaurants and attractions. Book You...

24/10/2026

📣 HELP SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE COOKTOWN RE-ENACTMENT ASSOCIATION!

The Cooktown Re-enactment Association is looking to the future and we'd love you to be part of it!

For more than 67 years, the Association has been sharing the story of the Endeavour's 48 days at Waalmbal Birri (Endeavour River) in 1770, including the encounters between Bama and Wangarr.

Today, the Association's activities include Waalmbal Birri Heritage and Culture Centre, the annual Cooktown Re-enactment and the Reconciliation Re-enactment.

We are now undertaking a Planning for the Future project to look at the Association's activities, its role in the community and how it develops and grows into the future.

An important part of this project is hearing from the people of Cooktown, Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and beyond, including community members, businesses, organisations and visitors.

𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧!

We want to know what you value about the Association, what you think could be improved and what ideas and opportunities you see for the future.

📱 Complete the survey online using the QR code.

📝 Prefer a paper copy? In Cooktown, surveys are available from:

📍 Waalmbal Birri Heritage and Culture Centre
📍 Cooktown History Centre

Look out for our community posters for information about where paper copies are available in other areas.

🎉 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐧 $𝟐𝟓𝟎! Entry into the prize draw is optional and separate from the anonymous survey.

Whether you've been involved with the Association for years, attended one of our events, visited the Centre or know nothing about the Association, we'd love to hear from you.

𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐮𝐬 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞!

And please share this post so we can reach as many people as possible.

06/08/2026

Some tragic information about the HMB Endeavour and its repair at Batavia

06/08/2026

HMB Endeavour Captain Anthony Longhurst and co showing the extraordinary skill of how the ship’s new rigging is being made. This is a precise art which should never be lost.

23/07/2026

Debrief today from 5pm. Hope to see you there.

18/07/2026

Tomorrow marks the 256th anniversary of one of the most significant moments of the Endeavour's 48-day stay on Waalmbal Birri (Endeavour River).

On 19 July 1770, conflict arose between the Guugu Yimithirr Bama and the crew of HMB Endeavour over turtles. During the confrontation Bama set fire to the European camp twice, warning shots were fired and the Endeavour crew collected a number of Bama spears.

What happened next has been preserved in the journals of Joseph Banks and James Cook.

Banks recorded how a Guugu Yimithirr Elder, he described as the "Little Old Man," approached carrying a lance without a point. He described the Elder pausing several times to collect moisture from beneath his arm before drawing it through his mouth.

The Guugu Yimithirr know this ritual as ngaala ngundaamay - a ceremony calling for protection and peace. As an Elder, it was his responsibility to resolve the conflict that had arisen and restore peace in accordance with the cultural governance of Waymburr.

Cook later recorded the outcome in his journal:

"…we now return'd the darts we had taken from them which reconciled every thing."

This remarkable act of reconciliation remains one of the defining moments of the story of the 48 days. It is a story we are honoured to continue sharing each year through the Cooktown Re-enactment and the retelling at Reconciliation Rocks, ensuring that this important chapter of our shared history continues to be remembered.

𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝟑𝐩𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐤𝐤𝐢𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲. 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲. 𝐎𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.

Photo courtesy of Alison Page.

14/07/2026

13/07/2026

The Cooktown Reenactment Association crew appreciate the support of the wonderful Sam Neill who visited us in 2018. We were just chatting today about the fun we had together. We are all heartbroken and send our deepest condolences to Sam’s family.
Rest in peace, Sam