Highway commemorates far northern pioneer

MAREEBA: Part of far north Queensland’s history has been preserved today with Peninsula Developmental Road officially reverting to its historical name – the Mulligan Highway.

In a special ceremony today (March 7) Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt and Member for Cook Jason O’Brien renamed the section of road from Mareeba to Cooktown.

Mr Pitt said the road was named after James Venture Mulligan, an explorer who discovered gold in the Palmer River goldfields.

“Changing the name of the highway reflects the significant impact this legendary pioneer had on the far North’s development,” Mr Pitt said.

“Mulligan’s exploration and prospecting helped shape the region’s development and opened up many of far north Queensland’s mineral fields from Cooktown to Herberton to Mount Garnet.”

Mr Pitt said it was particularly special to have Loretta Sullivan, a direct descendant of James Mulligan, attend the ceremony.

“There has been widespread community support for commemorating the Mulligan name in this way.

“The Cook and Mareeba shire councils, the Cooktown Historical Society, the Cape York Peninsula Development Association and in particular, Mr O'Brien, have all been very supportive of the renaming.

“Indeed, the Member for Cook lobbied long and hard to have the road name changed, and also to have the road upgraded.”

Member for Cook Jason O’Brien said the new name was a fitting one.

“Mulligan Highway is a far more interesting name,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I think it will make people more aware of the region’s history and encourage them to find out more about who Mulligan was and the important role he played in opening the area up to early pioneers.

“It’s a proud moment for the Mulligan family, to have their family recognised in this way.”

Mr O’Brien said the name change also reflected the changed condition of the road.

“I worked hard to have the name change, but also to improve the condition of the road. It’s no longer a gravel and dirt developmental road but a fully fledged highway.

Mr Pitt said since 1998, the State Government had invested $127 million on projects between Byerstown Range and Cooktown.

“In 2001, the Byerstown Range crossing was realigned and sealed at a cost of $17 million,” Mr Pitt said.

“A further $110 million was spent upgrading the Lakeland to Cooktown section, including the construction of 12 new bridges.

“Over a million tonnes of earth was excavated, millions of litres of water trucked to various sites, and thousands of resources used to transform the dust and gravel into bitumen.

“In January 2006, work was completed on the last project which saw the 11.25 kilometre section between Sackley’s Hill and East Normanby River sealed.”

Mr Pitt said the upgraded road meant the 300km journey between Cairns and Cooktown had been reduced from a day trip to a four-hour drive.

“Other benefits include a smoother journey for stock and other produce and an increase in regional tourism.”

The road from Mount Carbine to Cooktown was named the Mulligan Highway when the first state-controlled road was declared in 1950. It kept this name for 13 years until a review of the state-controlled road network in 1963.

Sections from Mount Molloy to Lakeland, from Lakeland to Cooktown and from Mareeba to Mt Molloy were gazetted as the Mulligan Highway last year.

Media contact: Minister Pitt’s office 4056 3175