Australian Towns, Cities & Highways: Cardwell

Cardwell

Cardwell, a small town on the Bruce Highway, lies between Townsville and Cairns and on the southern edge of Rockingham Bay and the Cassowary Coast. The town itself is established on a narrow stretch of land that is bounded by the Hinchinbrook Channel to the east with mountains to the west providing a striking backdrop - this mountain range provides favourable rainfall making Cardwell one of the wettest places in Australia. Settled in 1863 as a port to service the Upper Burdekin region, port facilities wound up once gold was found at Charters Towers with most of the coastal activity directed at Townsville. Nevertheless, by this stage the logging industry was well established with Cardwell eventually having the largest sawmill in North Queensland. Nowadays the town services the local sugar and agricultural industries, Bruce Highway traffic as well as being the primary point where tourists can access nearby Hinchinbrook Island. Of interest in the area includes Port Hinchinbrook (cruises in the nearby channels and access to Hinchinbrook Island - 2km south) and Edmund Kennedy & Lumholtz National Parks (5km west & 15km north).

Population: 1,300
State: Queensland
Name Origin: Named after Edward Cardwell, a British MP at the time of settlement.
Pronunciation: Card-well
Postcode: 4849
Local Government: Cassowary Coast Regional Council
Location: 1515km north west of Brisbane, 161km north west of Townsville
Main Watercourses: Coral Sea (Rockingham Bay)
Main Roads: Bruce Highway
Radio Stations (Music): Kool FM (91.9), Hot FM (103.1), 4KZ-FM (94.7), 4TO-FM (102.3), Mix FM (106.3), Zinc Rocks (100.7), Triple J (105.5), 4TO (AM 774), 4KZ (AM 531)

Photos from Cardwell (Click on thumbnail for full sized image):

Looking north-west along the Bruce Highway as it enters Cardwell from the south (2007).

Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking south-east from Clitheroe St, Cardwell (2007).

Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking north-west from Balliol St, Cardwell (2007)..

Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking north-west from Brasenose St, Cardwell (2007).

Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking south-east from Balliol St, Cardwell (2007).

The Giant Mud Crab, Cardwell (2007).

The Cardwell Jetty, looking east (2007).

Foreshore Parkland and Rockingham Bay, looking north, Cardwell (2007).

View west across the marina in Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell (2007).

Hinchinbrook Island, looking east from Cardwell (2007).

	Looking north-west along the Bruce Highway as it enters Cardwell from the south (2007).
	Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking south-east from Clitheroe St, Cardwell (2007).
	Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking north-west from Balliol St, Cardwell (2007)..
	Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking north-west from Brasenose St, Cardwell (2007).
	Victoria St (Bruce Hwy), looking south-east from Balliol St, Cardwell (2007).
	The Giant Mud Crab, Cardwell (2007).
	The Cardwell Jetty, looking east (2007).
	Foreshore Parkland and Rockingham Bay, looking north, Cardwell (2007).
	View west across the marina in Port Hinchinbrook, Cardwell (2007).
	Hinchinbrook Island, looking east from Cardwell (2007).