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Christie Palmerston was renowned as an explorer, adventurer and bushman. Numerous expeditions into unexplored parts of northern Queensland from the middle of the 1870s to the 1880s opened up the country to European settlement, especially around Cairns and the Herberton hinterlands.
Palmerston explored the Mulgrave, Herbert, Beatrice, Tully, North and South Johnstone Rivers, and the Russell and Barron Rivers. His adventures led to the discovery of the Upper Russell goldfield, and a pathway to the coast which enabled the establishment of Port Douglas.
Reports of his expeditions provided an invaluable source of information to the Commissioner of Railways who used the information to plan Queensland’s expanding rail and road network.
Palmerston relied heavily on the expertise and local knowledge of Aboriginal guides, including a young boy named Pompo for whom he held a great affection. In 1881, Pompo cared for Palmerston for seven days, after he was temporarily blinded in one eye.
Diaries kept by Palmerston reveal his remarkable skills when, in 1882, he walked from Innisfail to Herberton with the help of his Aboriginal guides in only 12 days. The existing highway and park section which follows the route he took are now named in his memory.
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 | Early explorers on horseback in north
Queensland Queensland State Archives Item ID 435739 |
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 | Letter from Chief Engineer W. Hannam to the Commissioner for Railways suggesting that an engineer be appointed to supervise surveyors working in Herberton and along the coast, 7 October 1882
Queensland State Archives Item ID 1139520, Digital Image ID 2932 Railway Department
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 | 1870 Italy unified to become one country | |
1871 Germany unified to become one country | |
1872 World's first national park, Yellowstone, USA | |
1873 Uluru first sighted by Europeans |
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