{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}} {{Infobox Australian place | type = region | name = Far North Queensland | state = qld | image = Qld-regions-map.gif | caption = Queensland regions | pop = 303102 <ref>{{Cite web |last=jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=Department of State Development |first=Infrastructure and Planning |date=2020-11-13 |title=Strengthening Far North Queensland |url=https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/regions/queenslands-regions/far-north-qld |access-date=2026-02-26 |website=State Development, Infrastructure and Planning |language=en-AU |archive-date=8 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260308220056/https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/regions/queenslands-regions/far-north-qld |url-status=live }}</ref> | pop_year = 2024 | pop_footnotes = |pop2=|pop2_year=|density=1.11| est = | area = 272215 | lga = [[Shire of Aurukun|Aurukun]], [[Shire of Burke|Burke]], [[Cairns Region|Cairns]], [[Shire of Carpentaria|Carpentaria]], [[Cassowary Coast Region|Cassowary Coast]], [[Shire of Cook|Cook]], [[Shire of Croydon|Croydon]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee|Doomadgee]], [[Shire of Douglas|Douglas]], [[Shire of Etheridge|Etheridge]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Hope Vale|Hope Vale]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama|Kowanyama]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Lockhart River|Lockhart River]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon|Mapoon]], [[Shire of Mareeba|Mareeba]], [[Shire of Mornington (Queensland)|Mornington]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Napranum|Napranum]], [[Northern Peninsula Area Region|Northern Peninsula Area]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Pormpuraaw|Pormpuraaw]], [[Tablelands Region|Tablelands]], [[Shire of Torres|Torres]], [[Torres Strait Island Region|Torres Strait Island]], [[Weipa Town|Weipa]], [[Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire|Wujal Wujal]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Yarrabah|Yarrabah]] | near-n = ''[[Torres Strait]]'' | near-ne = ''[[Coral Sea]]'' | near-e = ''[[Coral Sea]]'' | near-se = [[North Queensland]] | near-s = [[North Queensland]] | near-sw = [[North West Queensland]] | near-w = [[North West Queensland]] | near-nw = ''[[Gulf of Carpentaria]]'' | stategov = [[Electoral district of Barron River]], [[Electoral district of Cairns]], [[Electoral district of Cook]], [[Electoral district of Dalrymple]], [[Electoral district of Hinchinbrook]], [[Electoral district of Mulgrave (Queensland)|Electoral district of Mulgrave]] | fedgov = [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]] | fedgov2 = [[Division of Leichhardt|Leichhardt]] | logo = | url = }}
'''Far North Queensland''' ('''FNQ''') is the northernmost part of the [[States and territories of Australia|Australian state]] of [[Queensland]] (QLD). Its largest city is [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]] and it is dominated geographically by [[Cape York Peninsula]], which stretches north to the [[Torres Strait]], and west to the [[Gulf Country]]. The waters of Torres Strait include the only [[international border]] in the area contiguous with the [[Australian mainland]], between Australia and [[Papua New Guinea]].
The region is home to three [[World Heritage Site]]s, the [[Great Barrier Reef]], the [[Wet Tropics of Queensland]] and [[Australian Fossil Mammal Sites (Riversleigh)|Riversleigh]], Australia's largest [[fossil]] mammal site. Far North Queensland lays claim to over 70 [[national park]]s, including [[Mount Bartle Frere]]; with a peak of {{convert|1622|m}} it is the highest peak in both Northern Australia and Queensland.
Prior to [[History of Australia (1788–1850)|European settlement]], the Far North of Queensland was inhabited by numerous Aboriginal peoples, and today many local Indigenous languages and cultural practices have survived and are still maintained.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gambay - First Languages Map |url=https://gambay.com.au/languages |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=gambay.com.au}}</ref> New Native Title determinations for this area continue to be awarded. The Far North is the only region of Australia that is the indigenous country of both [[Aboriginal Australians]] and [[Torres Strait Islanders]].
Far North Queensland supports a significant agricultural sector, a number of significant mines and is home to Queensland's largest wind farm, the [[Windy Hill Wind Farm]].
==Extent== [[File:Viewpoint Daintree National Parc - Aussichtspunkt (22792907499).jpg|thumb|left|View from [[Daintree National Park]], 2009]] Various government departments and agencies have different definitions for the region. The Queensland Government department of Trade and Investment Queensland defines the region as an area comprising the following 25 local government areas; [[Shire of Aurukun|Aurukun]], [[Shire of Burke|Burke]], [[Cairns Region|Cairns]], [[Shire of Carpentaria|Carpentaria]], [[Cassowary Coast Region|Cassowary Coast]], [[Shire of Cook|Cook]], [[Shire of Croydon|Croydon]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Doomadgee|Doomadgee]], [[Shire of Douglas|Douglas]], [[Shire of Etheridge|Etheridge]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Hope Vale|Hope Vale]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama|Kowanyama]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Lockhart River|Lockhart River]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Mapoon|Mapoon]], [[Shire of Mareeba|Mareeba]], [[Shire of Mornington (Queensland)|Mornington]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Napranum|Napranum]], [[Northern Peninsula Area Region|Northern Peninsula Area]], [[Aboriginal Shire of Pormpuraaw|Pormpuraaw]], [[Tablelands Region|Tablelands]], [[Shire of Torres|Torres Strait Islands (not autonomous)]], [[Torres Strait Island Region|Torres Strait Islands (autonomous)]], [[Weipa Town|Weipa]], [[Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire|Wujal Wujal]], and [[Aboriginal Shire of Yarrabah|Yarrabah]].
==Settlements== The main population and administrative centre of the region is the city of Cairns. Other key population centres include [[Cooktown, Queensland|Cooktown]], the [[Atherton Tableland]], [[Weipa, Queensland|Weipa]], [[Innisfail, Queensland|Innisfail]] and the [[Torres Strait Islands]]. The region also consists of many [[Indigenous Australians|Aboriginal]] and farming groups.
The northeastern point of [[Highway 1 (Australia)|Highway 1]] passes through the region in the city of [[Cairns]] and connects the southern-running [[Bruce Highway]] to the western-running [[Savannah Way]]. [[Highway 1 (Australia)|Highway 1]] circumnavigates the continent at a length of approximately {{convert|14500|km}} and is the longest national highway in the world. Despite being Highway 1, not all sections of the [[Savannah Way]] are designated as a federally funded National Highway and certain sections remain unsealed.
Despite being in a housing crisis, the region has a very high unoccupied house rate.<ref name="fnqha">{{cite news |last=Testa |first=Christopher |date=29 June 2022 |title=Far North Queensland has a housing crisis but the census found more than 11,000 empty homes |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/census-finds-11000-homes-in-cairns-empty-despite-housing-crisis/101191446 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=21 September 2023 |archive-date=29 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230929110853/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-29/census-finds-11000-homes-in-cairns-empty-despite-housing-crisis/101191446 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the [[2021 Australian census]] in Douglas Shire the rate of empty homes was 18%.<ref name="fnqha"/>
==Industry== [[File:CSIRO ScienceImage 3712 Rural scene in far north Queensland Melon crop in foreground banana plantation behind with pine forest and rainforest in the background 15 Kms north of Cardwell QLD.jpg|thumb|left|alt=CSIRO Science Image 3712 Rural scene in far north Queensland Melon crop in foreground banana plantation behind with pine forest and rainforest in the background 15 km north of Cardwell QLD|Crops near Cardwell, Far North Queensland]] Significant industries include tourism, cattle grazing, agriculture and mining of both sand and [[bauxite]]. Agricultural products generate between $600 and $700 million a year.<ref name="qrhb">{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/08/02/3559159.htm |title=Queensland roads holding back nation's fresh fruit |author=Sam Davis |access-date=21 September 2012 |date=2 August 2012 |work=ABC Far North Queensland |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808213220/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2012/08/02/3559159.htm |archive-date=8 August 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sugar cane]], [[tropical fruit]]s including bananas, mangoes, papaya, lychees and coffee are grown in Far North Queensland.
The region is home to the world's biggest silica mine at [[Cape Flattery (Queensland)|Cape Flattery]].<ref name="wbsm">{{Cite news |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/worlds-biggest-silica-mine-damaged-by-cyclone-ita-20140414-36nr2.html |title='World's biggest' silica mine damaged by Cyclone Ita |author=Tony Moore |access-date=2 June 2014 |date=14 April 2014 |work=Brisbane Times|publisher=Fairfax Media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140426041405/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/worlds-biggest-silica-mine-damaged-by-cyclone-ita-20140414-36nr2.html |archive-date=26 April 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The mine was established in 1967 and was severely damaged by [[Cyclone Ita]] in 2014. [[Rio Tinto Alcan]] operates a [[bauxite]] mine on the western coast of Cape York Peninsula near Weipa which contains one of the largest bauxite deposits in the world.<ref name="baao">{{cite web |url=http://www.riotinto.com/annualreport2007/operationsfinancialreview/aluminium_group/bauxite_aluminia/index.html |title=Bauxite and aluminia operations |date=6 July 2011 |work=Operations & financial report |publisher=Rio Tinto Alcan |access-date=2 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924091259/http://www.riotinto.com/annualreport2007/operationsfinancialreview/aluminium_group/bauxite_aluminia/index.html |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In recent years, Far North Queensland has become increasingly known for its artistic and creative offerings, with the [[Cairns Indigenous Art Fair]], and Cairns Festival both held annually. Active arts organisation include the Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns Civic Theatre, and Cairns Art Gallery.
===Tourism=== [[File:Emmagen Creek crossing.JPG|thumb|left|[[Bloomfield Track]] in the Daintree Rainforest]] The region supports a large tourism industry and is considered a premier tourist destination in Australia.<ref name="teasi">{{cite web |url=http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/plan/far-north-queensland/background/tourism-report.pdf |title=The economic and social impacts of tourism in the Far North Queensland planning region |work=Planning Information and Forecasting Unit |publisher=Queensland Government |access-date=2 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607082003/http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/plan/far-north-queensland/background/tourism-report.pdf |archive-date=7 June 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Nearly one third of international visitors to the state come to the region.<ref name="teasi"/> Attractions include the [[Great Barrier Reef]], [[Daintree Rainforest]] and other [[Queensland tropical rain forests]] within the [[Wet Tropics of Queensland]] heritage area, the [[Atherton Tableland]], [[Hinchinbrook Island]] and other resort islands such as [[Dunk Island]] and [[Green Island (Queensland)|Green Island]]. Major attractions around and in Cairns include [[Cairns Aquarium]], [[Cairns Botanic Gardens]], [[The Reef Hotel Casino]], [[Kuranda Scenic Railway]], [[Barron Falls]] and the [[Skyrail Rainforest Cableway]]. Towns and localities attracting large numbers of tourists include [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]], [[Port Douglas, Queensland|Port Douglas]], [[Mission Beach, Queensland|Mission Beach]] and [[Cardwell, Queensland|Cardwell]]. ===Airports=== The region is served by [[Cairns Airport]]. The airport is the main international gateway to the region with direct services to other parts of [[Australia]], [[Asia]], [[Oceania]] and [[New Zealand]].
==Demographics== Far North Queensland's population has grown rapidly. The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimated the region's population at 280,638 in 2010.<ref name="absnrp">[http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@nrp.nsf/Latestproducts/350Population/People12006-2010?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=350&issue=2006-2010 National Regional Profile: Far North (Statistical Division)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229025159/http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs%40nrp.nsf/Latestproducts/350Population/People12006-2010?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=350&issue=2006-2010 |date=29 February 2012 }}. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved on 27 January 2012.</ref> In 2024, Far North Queensland is home to 303,102 residents, expected to increase to 378,000 residents by 2041<ref>{{Cite web |last=Queensland Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning |title=Strengthening Far North Queensland |url=https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/regions/queenslands-regions/far-north-qld |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251212033836/https://www.statedevelopment.qld.gov.au/regions/queenslands-regions/far-north-qld |archive-date=12 December 2025 |access-date=2026-02-14 |website=State Development, Infrastructure and Planning |language=en-AU |url-status=live }}</ref>.
In 2010 the region contained 25.6% of the state's [[Indigenous Australians|Indigenous]] population, or 28,909 people, making up 11.8% of the region's population.<ref>[http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au/data/briefs/demography/census_2001/atsi_demography_c01.pdf Office of economic and statistical research]{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> This percentage seemingly declined by the 2021 census, although this reflects changes to the areas included in the calculation. ABS' 2021 census estimated FNQ's Indigenous population at 16,534, or 4.6% of Queensland's total number of people identifying as Indigenous.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=2021 Far North, Census Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people QuickStats {{!}} Australian Bureau of Statistics |url=https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/IQS31501 |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=www.abs.gov.au |archive-date=8 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208095732/https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/IQS31501 |url-status=live }}</ref> This apparent decline overlooks (a) the dramatic increase in numbers of non-Indigenous residents in the region, and (b) the high percentages of Indigenous people that remain in areas now designated the 'Outback North', and several other 'Tablelands', urban and coastal classification areas, that used to fall under the FNQ umbrella.<ref name=":0" />
In addition to its large Indigenous community, there is also a large number of [[Melanesians]] in Far North Queensland, due to the region's close proximity to [[Melanesia]]. The majority of them are from [[Papua New Guinea]] or are [[South Sea Islanders]], who descend from labourers who were [[Blackbirding|blackbirded]] and brought to Queensland from [[Fiji]], the [[Solomon Islands]] and [[Vanuatu]]. Cairns has the highest population of [[Papua New Guinean Australians|Papua New Guineans]] outside of Papua New Guinea itself.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regions we visit |url=https://www.tradelinked-cairns-png.com/areas/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Tradelinked Cairns - PNG - Pacific |date=2 October 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718145033/https://www.tradelinked-cairns-png.com/areas/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==History==
=== Aboriginal peoples === ''[[Yalanjic languages|Yalanji]]'' (also known as ''Kuku Yalanji'', ''Kuku Yalaja'', ''Kuku Yelandji'', and ''Gugu Yalanji)'' is an [[Australian Aboriginal languages|Australian Aboriginal language]] of Far North Queensland. The traditional language region is [[Mossman River]] in the south to the [[Annan River]] in the north, bordered by the [[Pacific Ocean]] in the east and extending inland to west of [[Mount Mulgrave, Queensland|Mount Mulgrave]]. This includes the local government boundaries of the [[Shire of Douglas]], the [[Shire of Cook]] and the [[Aboriginal Shire of Wujal Wujal]] and the towns and localities of [[Cooktown, Queensland|Cooktown]], [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]], [[Daintree, Queensland|Daintree]], [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]] and [[Wujal Wujal]]. It includes the head of the [[Palmer River]], the [[Bloomfield River]], [[China Camp, Queensland|China Camp]], [[Maytown, Queensland|Maytown]], and [[Palmerville, Queensland|Palmerville]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/158|title=Yalanji|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
''[[Kuku Yalanji language|Kuku Yalanji]]'' (also known as ''Gugu Yalanji'', ''Kuku Yalaja'', and ''Kuku Yelandji'') is an Australian Aboriginal language of the [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]] and [[Daintree, Queensland|Daintree]] areas of North Queensland. The language region includes areas within the local government area of [[Shire of Douglas]] and [[Shire of Cook]], particularly the localities of Mossman, Daintree, [[Bloomfield River]], China Camp, [[Maytown, Queensland|Maytown]], [[Palmer, Queensland|Palmer]], [[Cape Tribulation, Queensland|Cape Tribulation]] and [[Wujal Wujal]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/66|title=Kuku Yalanji|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=28 January 2020}}</ref>
''[[Warungu language|Warungu]]'' (also known as ''Warrungu'', ''Warrongo'', and ''Waroongoo''.'')'' is an Australian Aboriginal language in North Queensland. The language region includes areas from the [[Upper Herbert River]] to [[Mount Garnet]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/141|title=Warungu|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}</ref>
[[Yir-Yoront language|''Yir Yiront'']] (also known as ''Yiront'', ''Jirjoront'', ''Yir-yiront'', and ''Kokomindjan'') is an Australian Aboriginal language. Its traditional language region is in Western Cape York within the local government areas of [[Aboriginal Shire of Kowanyama]] and [[Shire of Cook]], in the catchments of the [[Coleman River (Queensland)|Coleman River]] and [[Mitchell River (Queensland)|Mitchell River]]. Following the removal of Aboriginal people from their traditional lands, it is also spoken in [[Pormpuraaw, Queensland|Pormpuraaw]] and [[Kowanyama, Queensland|Kowanyama]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/164|title=Yir Yiront|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>
''[[Yidiny language|Yidinji]]'' (also known as ''Yidinj'', ''Yidiny'', and ''Idindji'') is an Australian Aboriginal language of North Queensland. Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of [[Cairns Region]] and [[Tablelands Region]], in such localities as [[Cairns]], [[Gordonvale, Queensland|Gordonvale]], the southern part of the [[Atherton Tableland]] including [[Atherton, Queensland|Atherton]] and [[Kairi, Queensland|Kairi]].<ref>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/163|title=Yidinji|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>
=== Mining === Far North Queensland is the location of the first [[amber]] fossils to be found in Australia. The four-million-year-old fossils were found on a beach in [[Cape York Peninsula]] but were probably washed ashore after drifting with the currents for about 200 km.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/11/29/1796778.htm |title=Amber fossils a first for Australia |author=Anna Salleh |access-date=27 January 2012 |date=29 November 2006 |work=ABC Science Online |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219033148/http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2006/11/29/1796778.htm |archive-date=19 February 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the 1860s, [[Richard Daintree]] discovered gold and copper deposits along several rivers which led early prospectors to the area.<ref name="adbrd">{{cite book |chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/daintree-richard-3350 |title=Daintree, Richard (1832–1878) |chapter=Richard Daintree (1832–1878) |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=8 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208140424/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/daintree-richard-3350 |archive-date=8 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Many mining towns have come and gone, going through a boom and bust cycle as mines were depleted.<ref name="abc_2023-09-08">{{cite news |last=Brandel |first=Phil |date=8 September 2023 |title=Abandoned boom-and-bust mining towns of far north Queensland measured by how many pubs they had |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-08/abandoned-boom-and-bust-mining-towns-of-far-north-queensland/102775176 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=21 September 2023 |archive-date=20 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920174801/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-08/abandoned-boom-and-bust-mining-towns-of-far-north-queensland/102775176 |url-status=live }}</ref>
The [[Mount Mulligan mine disaster]] occurred on 19 September 1921.<ref name="mmmd">{{cite web |url=https://www.amsj.com.au/mount-mulligan-mine-disaster/ |title=Mount Mulligan mine disaster |date=24 June 2019 |website=Australasian Mine Safety Journal |access-date=21 September 2023 |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012054427/https://www.amsj.com.au/mount-mulligan-mine-disaster/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Seventy-five workers were killed, making it the third-worst coal [[mining accident]] in Australia.<ref name="mmmd"/>
===Cyclones=== The region suffered Queensland's worst maritime disaster on 4 March 1899 when the [[Mahina Cyclone of 1899|Mahina Cyclone]] destroyed all 100 ships moored in [[Princess Charlotte Bay]]. The entire North Queensland pearling fleet was in the bay at the time of the cyclone. Approximately 100 Aboriginals assisting survivors and 307 men from the pearling fleet were drowned.<ref name="naq">{{cite book |title=Natural areas of Queensland |last=Shilton |first=Peter |year=2005 |publisher=Goldpress |location=Mount Gravatt, Queensland |isbn=0-9758275-0-2 |pages=16, 17, 29, 32 }}<!--|access-date=10 June 2011--></ref> Its pressure was measured at 914 hPa with a recorded [[tidal surge]] of 13 m, the highest ever in Australia.<ref name="hhwtss">{{cite web|url=http://www.em.gov.au/Documents/How_high_was_the_storm_surge_from_Tropical_Cyclone_Mahina.pdf |title=How high was the storm surge from Tropical Cyclone Mahina? |author=Jonathan Nott & Matthew Hayne |year=2000 |publisher=Australian Emergency Management |access-date=4 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212012321/http://www.em.gov.au/Documents/How_high_was_the_storm_surge_from_Tropical_Cyclone_Mahina.pdf |archive-date=12 February 2014}}</ref> The [[1918 Mackay cyclone]] hit the Queensland coast in January of that year, killing 30 people.<ref name="awc"/>
In March 1997, [[Cyclone Justin]] resulted in the deaths of seven people. In early 2000, [[Cyclone Steve]] caused major flooding between Cairns and [[Mareeba]]. [[Cyclone Larry]] crossed the Queensland coast near Innisfail in March 2006. The storm resulted in an estimated $1.5 billion worth of damage and damaged 10,000 homes.<ref name="awc"/> 80% of Australia's banana crop was destroyed. [[Cyclone Monica]] was the most intense cyclone on record in terms of wind speed to cross the Australian coast. It impacted the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland in April 2006. In January 2011, [[Cyclone Yasi]] passed over [[Tully, Queensland|Tully]] and resulted in an estimated $3.6 billion worth of damage, making it the costliest cyclone ever to hit Australia.<ref name="awc">{{cite web |url=http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2011/02/australias-worst-cyclones-timeline/ |title=Australia's worst cyclones: timeline |date=2 February 2011 |work=Australian Geographic |author=Marina Kamenev |access-date=4 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607003042/http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2011/02/australias-worst-cyclones-timeline/ |archive-date=7 June 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
In December 2023, [[Cyclone Jasper]] crossed the Far North Queensland coast south of Cooktown as a category two cyclone. It later stalled over the southern York Peninsula resulting in record rainfall along the eastern coast that lead to the [[2023 Cairns floods]]. Port Douglas received more than a metre of rain in a few days.<ref name="cjh">{{cite news |last=Readfearn |first=Graham |date=19 December 2023 |title=Cyclone Jasper: how did it cause so much rain and could global heating be to blame? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/19/cyclone-jasper-how-did-it-cause-so-much-rain-and-could-global-heating-be-to-blame |work=The Guardian |access-date=22 December 2023 |archive-date=22 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222035329/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/19/cyclone-jasper-how-did-it-cause-so-much-rain-and-could-global-heating-be-to-blame |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Fauna== [[File:Casuarius casuarius (6547872533).jpg|thumb|A [[Southern Cassowary]], [[South Mission Beach]], 2011]] The region has many unique native animal species such as crocodile, endangered southern cassowary, koala, flying possum, python, water dragon, wallabie, flying fox, tree kangaroo, platypus, leaf-tailed gecko and bandicoot.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildlife Tropical North Queensland - Unequalled Wildlife Experiences |url=https://www.wildlifetropicalnorthqueensland.com/ |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=wildlifetropicalnorthqueensland |language=en-US |archive-date=21 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240421002041/http://wildlifetropicalnorthqueensland.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Iconic Australian fauna in Far North Queensland · iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/959 |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=iNaturalist |language=en |archive-date=14 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114193317/https://www.inaturalist.org/guides/959 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Native animals of Cairns local government area |url=https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/wildlife/?AreaID=lga-cairns&Kingdom=animals&SpeciesFilter=Native |access-date=2024-05-01 |website=Wetland Info |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=30 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240430082554/https://wetlandinfo.des.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/wildlife/?AreaID=lga-cairns&Kingdom=animals&SpeciesFilter=Native |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Tropical North Queensland== Far North Queensland has a tropical climate and as such, the name ''Tropical North Queensland'' is also used as the name for the region, mostly due to the tourism industry. Tourism Tropical North Queensland (TTNQ) defines its area from Cardwell in the south up to the Torres Strait in the north and west to the Queensland border with the Northern Territory. However, the phrase Tropical North Queensland is ambiguous and may be used to name a wider area including parts of [[North Queensland]], or even [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tnqevents.com.au/Home.39.0.html?&no_cache=1|title=Tropical Queensland's Number 1 Events Calendar showcasing the region|website=www.tnqevents.com.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190312001937/http://www.tnqevents.com.au/Home.39.0.html?&no_cache=1|archive-date=12 March 2019|url-status=live|access-date=29 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/|title=Tropical North Queensland - No Place Like it on Earth|website=Tropical North QLD|access-date=29 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307180835/https://www.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/|archive-date=7 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/43756543|title=Wildlife of tropical North Queensland : Cooktown to Mackay|last1=Amey|first1=Andrew|date=29 April 2019|publisher=[[Queensland Museum]]|via=Trove|access-date=29 April 2019|archive-date=31 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731051202/https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/43756543|url-status=live}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Queensland}} * [[List of proposed states of Australia#North Queensland|Proposal for a new state of North Queensland]] * [[List of regions in Australia]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.nfsa.gov.au/blog/2012/08/21/far-north-queensland-time-capsule/ Watch historical footage of Babinda, Cairns and Far North Queensland] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512033111/http://www.nfsa.gov.au/blog/2012/08/21/far-north-queensland-time-capsule/ |date=12 May 2013 }}) from the [[National Film and Sound Archive]] of Australia's collection.
{{Far North Queensland}} {{Queensland}}
[[Category:Far North Queensland| ]]