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Mareeba area was settled only about 125 years
ago. In 1845 Leichhardt found a route from
Brisbane through to the Northern Territory,
but on his second expedition his party completely disappeared.
His grave was never found.
In 1848 Kennedy led an expedition to the
Cape, he was speared to death a short distance from the tip
as they were waiting for a supply ship. He died in the arms
of his companion Jacky Jacky, he buried Kennedy and was rescued
by the awaiting ship.
In 1872 William Hann passed through Mareeba
to report on the mineral prospects of the area. The Hann Tableland
just north of the town is named after him. He found samples
of gold on the Palmer River and on his return reported the findings.
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