Cooktown, Queensland

Cooktown
View of Cooktown from Grassy Hill
Cooktown
Interactive map of Cooktown
Coordinates: 15°28′20″S 145°15′08″E / 15.4722°S 145.2522°E / -15.4722; 145.2522 (Cooktown (town centre))
CountryAustralia
StateQueensland
LGA
Location
Established1873
Government
 • State electorate
 • Federal division
Area
 • Total
2,197.3 km2 (848.4 sq mi)
Elevation
6.0 m (19.7 ft)
Population
 • Total2,746 (2021 census)
 • Density1.24972/km2 (3.2367/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+10:00 (AEST)
Postcode
4895
CountyBanks
Mean max temp31.5 °C (88.7 °F)
Mean min temp24.3 °C (75.7 °F)
Annual rainfall1,809.7 mm (71.25 in)
Localities around Cooktown
Starcke Starcke Hopevale
Lakefield Cooktown Coral Sea
Laura Lakeland Rossville

Cooktown is a coastal town and locality in the Shire of Cook, Queensland, Australia. Cooktown is at the mouth of the Endeavour River, on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland where James Cook beached his ship, the Endeavour, for repairs in 1770. Both the town and Mount Cook (431 metres or 1,415 feet) which rises up behind the town were named after James Cook.

Cooktown is one of the few large towns in the Cape York Peninsula and was founded on 25 October 1873 as a supply port for the goldfields along the Palmer River. It was called "Cook's Town" until 1 June 1874.

In the 2021 census, the locality of Cooktown had a population of 2,746 people.