Cooktown Museum | National Trust of Australia (Queensland)

Cooktown Museum - Cooktown

Discover the rich history of Cooktown at Cooktown Museum, set in a beautifully restored nineteenth-century Sisters of Mercy convent. Formerly the James Cook Museum, it now tells the stories of the region, including Guugu Yimithiir culture, early encounters with Lt. James Cook, and one of Australia’s first recorded acts of reconciliation.

Highlights include artefacts from HMB Endeavour, a ship model from the early 1900s, and displays on the Gold Rush, Chinese migration, and life in the convent school (1888–1940s). From the verandah, enjoy stunning views of the Endeavour River and the gateway to Cape York.

Cooktown Museum offers accessible entry via a dedicated access external footpath entrance on Furneaux Street, with visitors then entering the Museum through the front door on Helen Street. Once inside, a lift provides accessible access to the first level of the Museum, supporting ease of movement for visitors with mobility needs.

Plan Your Visit

Address

Cnr Helen & Furneaux Street Cooktown, Queensland, 4895

Open Hours

Cooktown Museum is now closed for the Summer Festive Season and will re-open on:

Monday 19 January 2026.

*CLOSED OVER SUMMER
From: Monday 15 December 2025 - 18 January 2026

*Closed all calendar public holidays

Phone

07 4069 5386

Email

cooktownmuseum@nationaltrustqld.org

Entry Fees

Adult - $25
Concession - $20
Child - $15 (3 to 13 years)
Infant Under 3 years - Free
Family - $65 (2 adults and up to 3 children)
National Trust Members - Free

Group Bookings - Groups of 10+ Discounts apply by prior arrangement

Access Statement

Cooktown Museum is committed to welcoming visitors of all abilities. With accessible external footpath entry, lift access to the first floor, nearby accessible parking, and friendly staff, we strive to make every visit enjoyable. As a Queensland Tourism Industry Council Sustainable Accredited Business, accessibility is a key part of our commitment. Visitors with specific access needs are encouraged to contact us in advance for assistance.

Cooktown

With so many things to do in Cooktown we have put together some ideas so you can get the most out of your trip in far north Queensland.

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History

A rare and remote nineteenth century brick convent building, Cooktown Museum was constructed in 1888 as a school where the Sisters of Mercy could provide education to day students and boarders from the Cooktown region. During the Second World War, the Sisters of Mercy and their students moved inland to Herberton and did not return. Gradually the building fell into disrepair.

Following a fundraising campaign, the former convent was acquired by the National Trust and restored before its opening as the then James Cook Historical Museum by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 22 April 1970. In the fifty years since, Cooktown Museum has interpreted the cultural diversity of the Cooktown region through its significant collection of historic photographs and collection items, including its extensive collection of local Guugu Yimithiir artifacts.

In 2001 the Endeavour Gallery of the Museum was created as part of the Centenary of Federation celebrations, allowing for the display of one of HMB Endeavour’s jettisoned cannons and an anchor recovered from the Great Barrier Reef. Conservation work being undertaken at Cooktown Museum over 2019-2020 will allow for improved access and updated interpretation of the site and its collection.

Cooktown
Museum