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Location:
Oceania,
Australia, Port Douglas
Category:
Beach cam
Description:
View looking down the main street to
famous Four Mile Beach
Location Information:
The
Port Douglas township was
established in 1877 after the
discovery of gold at Hodgkinson
River by James Venture Mulligan. It
grew quickly, and at its peak Port
Douglas had a population of 12,000
and 27 hotels. With the construction
of the Mulligan Highway it serviced
towns as far away as Herberton.
When the Kuranda Railway from Cairns
to Kuranda was completed in 1891,
the importance of Port Douglas
dwindled along with its population.
A cyclone in 1911 which demolished
all but two buildings in the town
also had a significant impact. At
its nadir in 1960 the town, by then
little more than a fishing village,
had a population of 100.
In the mid-1980s, tourism boomed in
the region after investor
Christopher Skase financed the
construction of the world-class
Sheraton Mirage. Kitesurfing is
popular at the southern end of Four
Mile Beach, particularly during the
winter months when trade winds blow
from the South.
Port Douglas is near the Great
Barrier Reef. Numerous companies run
daily trips from the marina to the
outer reef and the Low Isles for
scuba diving and snorkelling. Port
Douglas is also well known for its
many restaurants, golf courses, and
five star resorts.
A number of private homes are
available for rental year round,
from simple budget-style
accommodation to the ultimate in
luxury living.
Local
Weather:
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