Shared-History Culture

The first European settlement in the area was by James Burne who took up Batavia Downs in 1882. In 1892 gold was discovered on the upper Wenlock River by William Baird and the ‘Batavia Gold Field’ produced the first rush on the Peninsula.

Batavia Downs was run as a cattle station and then as a Government research farm. In 1995 it was assessed by QPWS for inclusion in a proposed national park.