History of Yorkeys Knob, Cairns

George Lawson (1839-1907), known as 'Yorkey’, was a fisherman who lived on the hill known locally as the Knob. Yorkey was a beche-de-mer fisherman and during the off-fishing season he farmed pumpkins, sweet potatoes and melons. The area of land farmed by Yorkey contained the Knob and was bounded to the west by Varley Street and to the south by Kempton Street – essentially the main beach area of the suburb now known as Yorkeys Knob. On the 20th September 1886, whilst fishing at Green Island, Yorkey had his right hand blown off by an explosion of dynamite. The stump remaining on Yorkey's arm is said to have resembled the land at Yorkeys Knob, further entrenching the name with locals.