Ingham

History

Prior to European settlement, the Ingham area was inhabited by the Warakamai People. Warrgamay (also known as Waragamai, Wargamay, Wargamaygan, Biyay, and Warakamai) is an Australian Aboriginal language in North Queensland. The language region includes the Herbert River area, Ingham, Hawkins Creek, Long Pocket, Herbert Vale, Niagara Vale, Yamanic Creek, Herbert Gorge, Cardwell, Hinchinbrook Island and the adjacent mainland. George Elphinstone Dalrymple led the first British expedition to the area during his 1864 journey from Cardwell to the Valley of Lagoons Station. Dalrymple named the Herbert River on this expedition and described both the extensive grassy plains that flanked the river and the "tribe of wild blacks" who lived upon them. Co-owner of Valley of Lagoons, Walter Jervoise Scott, soon established the Herbert Vale cattle station on these plains which was managed by Henry Worsley Stone and Duncan McAuslan. In 1868, the region was opened to further uptake of land by colonists, with Daniel Cudmore and Maurice Geoffrey O'Connell being the most prominent selectors. This taking of land led to conflict between the British colonists and the resident Indigenous population of the region. Cattle continued to be speared and in 1872 a Native Police detachment captured a group of Aborigines at Daniel Cudmore's property. They were made to gather firewood and were then shot, their corpses being burnt on the gathered wood. James Cassady, a colonist who attempted to protect Aborigines in the region, described how Native Police officers during this period would order the shootings of peaceful Aboriginal people. In once instance, two young boys who survived these shootings were taken and given as presents to other colonists. The Native Police forces in the Ingham region were…

Geography

Ingham is approximately north of Townsville and north of the state capital, Brisbane. The town is positioned about inland within the Herbert River floodplain where Palm Creek drains the low-lying lands. It is surrounded by sugar cane farms which are serviced by a number of private railways. The North Coast railway line passes through the town, which is served by the Ingham railway station. The Bruce Highway also passes through the town. Tokalon is a neighbourhood in the south-east of the locality (). It takes its name from the Tokalon railway station, which was named by the Queensland Railways Department on 24 December 1924, from the name of a local selection. Tokalan is an Aboriginal word meaning beautiful land.

Most-observed species

• Willie-wagtail

  Rhipidura leucophrys (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  1,763
• Masked Lapwing

  Vanellus miles (Boddaert, 1783) · Aves
  1,529
• Peaceful Dove

  Geopelia placida Gould, 1844 · Aves
  1,395
• Comb-crested Jacana

  Irediparra gallinacea (Temminck, 1828) · Aves
  1,273
• Crimson Finch

  Neochmia phaeton (Hombron & Jacquinot, 1841) · Aves
  1,195
• Brown Honeyeater

  Lichmera indistincta (Vigors & Horsfield, 1827) · Aves
  1,136
• Bar-shouldered Dove

  Geopelia humeralis (Temminck, 1821) · Aves
  971
• Australasian Darter

  Anhinga novaehollandiae (Gould, 1847) · Aves
  961