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Susan Alley’s new book, Alley & Co: Mulgrave Valley 1877-1897, is a painstakingly researched history of the Alley family who settled in the very early days of the Cairns township and surrounding area. The book also explores the time of the proclamation of Cairns (originally called Thornton) in 1876. Early explorers and settlers travelled along the Mulgrave River to the south of Cairns, eventually settling on the banks of the Mulgrave. One of the earliest landmarks was Alley’s landing, the name of an area close to the bank of the Mulgrave River. Here, cedar-cutters were able to load logs onto boats for transport to the port of Cairns. When Robson’s Track was opened as a means of transporting gold from the tablelands down to the port in Cairns, the Alley family built the Riverstone Hotel, serving travellers along Robson’s Track.
Susan Alley has previously published three books about the Alley family history: Battle of the Bar, Flamin’ Donny! and Cheerio, Don. Cheerio, Don, the story of Susan’s Uncle Don, was published by Jabiru Publishing in 2014.
Alley & Co: Mulgrave Valley 1877-1897 is presently at the printer and will be released very soon. Its release happily coincides with celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the founding of Cairns in Far North Queensland.
You can pre-order this important historical book from the Jabiru Publishing online Shop.
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