Population 2,104 (2011 census) State electorate(s) Barron River Postal code 4870 Lga Cairns Region | Postcode(s) 4870 Freshwater Stratford Federal division Division of Leichhardt | |
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Freshwater is a suburb of Cairns, Queensland, Australia. The suburb once belonged to the Shire of Mulgrave but was amalgamated into the City of Cairns, which subsequently was amalgamated into the Cairns Region. In the 2011 census, Freshwater had a population of 2,104 people.
Contents
Map of Freshwater QLD 4870, Australia
History
The European history of Freshwater is a long one dating back to 1877. Chinese market gardeners moved into the area, after exhausting their chances on the Hodgkinson Goldfields, leased small plots from the landowners, successfully growing rice, bananas, pineapples and other tropical crops. Freshwater Post Office opened by April 1925 (a receiving office, earlier named Stratford, had been open from 1897).
A rice mill was established on the Lower Freshwater Creek and was being successfully operated by local man, Joseph Kipling in 1891. Chinese farmers grew rice in the adjacent fields.
At the 2006 census, Freshwater had a population of 1,976.
Transport
The Kuranda Scenic Railway has a stop in the suburb.