Somerset – History and Coast at Cape York

Somerset lies at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, on Gudang land. For travellers looking for hotels in Somerset, two themes take centre stage: local history and the coast. The history includes the settlement’s founding and former administrative role, as well as the Kennedy Memorial Monument and the Jardine family graves. At Somerset Beach, the shoreline, views of Albany Island and the ruins of an early European settlement define its coastal character.

Founding and historical role

Somerset was formally founded in August 1864 at the tip of the Cape York Peninsula, on Gudang land. It was intended to serve as a port and administrative centre for the Torres Strait region. Until it closed in 1877, Somerset served as the administrative centre for the area, including the Torres Strait. The planned port function and later administrative role are therefore part of the place’s history; its administrative function continued until 1877.

The years refer to different events: 1848 was the year of the expedition, 1864 the year of the settlement’s founding, 1948 the year the monument was unveiled, and 2018 the year the Somerset Graves Site was entered in the Queensland Heritage Register. The monument was unveiled exactly one century after the year of the expedition. This timeline distinguishes the expedition, the founding of the settlement, the later commemoration and the register entry.

Memorial sites at the Somerset Graves Site

The Kennedy Memorial Monument is located at the Somerset Graves Site. It was unveiled on 13 December 1948 to commemorate Edmund Besley Court Kennedy’s 1848 expedition to explore the Cape York Peninsula. Its purpose is therefore to commemorate the expedition, not the founding of Somerset: a hundred years separate the expedition year from the unveiling of the monument.

The Somerset Graves Site also includes the graves of Frank Jardine and three other members of the Jardine family. Together, they represent distinct historical points of reference: the monument commemorates Kennedy’s expedition, while the graves are associated with the Jardine family. Visitors exploring the local history can consider these themes separately rather than treating the graves and the monument’s purpose as one and the same. The Somerset Graves Site was entered in the Queensland Heritage Register in 2018.

Somerset Beach: Shoreline, Views and Ruins

The shoreline at Somerset Beach can be explored on foot. Somerset Beach also offers beautiful views of Albany Island. The beach is also home to the ruins of an early European settlement. A coastal walk, island views and settlement ruins are three distinct ways to engage with this place.

The beach offers a different focus from the Somerset Graves Site: here, the emphasis is on the coastal landscape and the ruins of an early European settlement; at the Graves Site, it is on the monument and family graves. When planning your trip around your interests, you can distinguish between the coastal theme and the different historical points of reference.

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For the main travel overview: Queensland.