Mourilyan Harbour

The locality of Mourilyan Harbour is a coastal area bounded by the Coral Sea on the east and the Moresby River and one of its tributary creeks to the south.

The port facility is located on the northern bank of the mouth of the Moresby River ({{Coord|-17.5998|146.1245|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mourilyan Port}}). It is primarily used to export raw sugar and molasses but also handles other cargoes such as woodchips and cattle.{{Cite web |title=Mourilyan Port Procedures and Information for Shipping (Maritime Safety Queensland) |url=https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/shipping/port-procedures/port-procedures-mourilyan |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Maritime Safety Queensland |archive-date=1 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231101115843/https://www.msq.qld.gov.au/shipping/port-procedures/port-procedures-mourilyan |url-status=live }}

The Mourilyan Harbour Road runs roughly east–west through the locality linking the port to the town of Mourilyan to the immediate west.{{Queensland Globe|access-date=14 December 2023}}

Apart from the port, most of the developed land in the locality is used for growing sugarcane.

File:StateLibQld 1 87608 Steamship Kuranda moored at Mourilyan Harbour Wharf, ca. 1914.jpg

In 1872, John Moresby, a naval captain as well as hydrographer and explorer, charted Mourilyan Harbour on a coastal patrol in {{HMS|Basilisk|1848|6}}. He named it after one of his officers, Lieutenant T. L. Mourilyan. Moresby considered it to be an excellent landing place with a deepwater anchorage.Armstrong & Verhoeven, pp 65-69

In the early 1880s, a small jetty was erected. In January 1884, construction began on a tramway from the harbour to the sugar mill at Mourilyan. In 1889, it was decided that steamers of up to 1,500 tons could be accommodated. A second jetty was built with a conveyor belt.

In 1903, a more major tramway development, known as the Geraldton Tramway initially but renamed the Innisfail Tramway when the town of Geraldton was renamed Innisfail, was undertaken to transport harvested sugar cane throughout the district to the mill and, after processing, to the harbour. The tramway was also used for other purposes, including carrying passengers from the harbour and also tourists wanting to visit the Fishery Falls.Armstrong and Verhoenen, 2000, pp 14, 20, 23

From 1922 to 1924, the Queensland Government's Harbours and Rivers Department built a {{Convert|416|ft}} wharf with large sheds for sugar storage. The North Coast railway line from Brisbane to Cairns was completed in 1924, which reduced the passenger traffic through the harbour but the sugar industry was growing and the harbour became predominantly for shipping sugar.

After World War II, the Queensland Government decided to reduce the number of ports handled sugar to six ports which would be upgraded for bulk sugar handling. Mourilyan Harbour was one of the six chosen. In November 1957, a ship Wortanna carrying sugar went aground on a rocky bar near the harbour entrance,{{Cite web |title=SV Wortanna |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?206639 |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=Wreck Site}}{{Cite web |date=2021-06-04 |title=Tribute to brave crews of the small ships |url=https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/7277777/tribute-to-brave-crews-of-the-small-ships/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=The Senior |language=en-AU |archive-date=22 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322121407/https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/7277777/tribute-to-brave-crews-of-the-small-ships/ |url-status=live }} leading to the removal of the bar and the major upgrade to the harbour and its facilities for bulk handling, which was completed in June 1960. The new large conveyor belt could load sugar into a ship at {{Convert|863|tonnes}} per hour, which made it one of the largest raw sugar handling ports in the world. The Mourilyan Harbour Board was established to operated the port. In September 1971, the port's storage shed capacity was further increased.

In 1997, it was decided that rail transport to the wharf was no longer required and that section of the line was removed but the line remains in use by farmers for transport of the sugar to the mill.

In the {{CensusAU|2011}}, the population of Mourilyan Harbour was not separately reported but was included in the population for neighbouring New Harbourline with a combined population of 317 people.{{Census 2011 AUS|id=SSC31217 |name=New Harbourline (SSC)|accessdate=8 March 2015|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, Mourilyan Harbour had a population of 156 people.{{Census 2016 AUS|id=SSC32062|name=Mourilyan Harbour (SSC)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Mourilyan Harbour had a population of 142 people.{{Census 2021 AUS|id=SAL32044|name=Mourilyan Harbour (SAL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}

The port of Mourilyan is around the mouth of the Moresby River into the Coral Sea ({{Coord|-15.4594|145.2499|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mourilyan Port}}).{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Ports; Marinas and wharf areas |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=1 July 2025 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government}} The port exports raw sugar and molasses from Innisfail, Babinda, Tully and the Atherton Tableland. The port also exports iron ore and livestock. It is operated by Ports North, based in Cairns.{{Cite web |title=Mourilyan |url=https://www.portsnorth.com.au/mourilyan/ |access-date=2025-07-01 |website=Ports North |language=en}}

There are no schools in Mourilyan Harbour. The nearest government primary school is Mourilyan State School in neighbouring Mourilyan to the west. The nearest government secondary school is Innisfail State College in Innisfail Estate to the north-west.{{cite web |title=Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments |url=https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |access-date=13 December 2023 |website=Queensland Globe |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=19 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219175447/https://qldglobe.information.qld.gov.au/ |url-status=live }}

Mourilyan Harbour is known for its recreational fishing with many creeks and channels, lined with mangroves. Fish caught there include barramundi, mangrove jacks, giant trevally and queenfish. However, caution must be taken during windy weather as the water can become very choppy.{{cite web|title=Mourilyan Harbour|url=http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page3-10.html|website=Fishing Cairns|accessdate=8 March 2015|archive-date=3 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303051914/http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/page3-10.html|url-status=live}}

• List of tramways in Queensland

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation |author1=Armstrong |first=John |title=The Innisfail tramway : the history and development of the Geraldton Shire tramway and the Mourilyan Harbour tramway |pages=14, 20, 23 |publication-date=2000 |edition=Revised |publisher=Light Railway Research Society of Australia |isbn=978-0-909340-39-1 |author2=Verhoeven |first2=Gerry H.}}

{{Commons category|Mourilyan Harbour, Queensland}}

• {{cite web|title=Mourilyan|url=http://www.queenslandplaces.com.au/mourilyan|work=Queensland Places|publisher=Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland}} — also covers Mourilyan Harbour

{{Cassowary Coast Region}}

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Category:Cassowary Coast Region

Category:Ports and harbours of Queensland

Category:Ports and harbors of the Pacific Ocean

Category:Localities in Queensland