Lieutenant James Cook, on Wednesday 24 May 1770, went ashore near Round Hill Head with a party of men in order to examine the country, accompanied by Joseph Banks and Dr Solander. Cook’s ship, the Endeavour, anchored about 2 miles off shore.
The ship was 106 feet in length, 29 feet 3 inches wide and weighed 368 ton and had a 14 foot draught. Some of the provisions were 80 ton of water, 21228 pounds of bread in bags, 1200 gallons of beer in puncheons, 4000 pieces of beef and 2500 pounds of raisins.
This was Cook’s second landing in Australia and his first in Queensland, hence the Town of 1770 being referred to as the birthplace of Queensland. Cook and his party landed within the south point of the bay where they found a channel leading into a large lagoon. ‘’In this place there is a room for a few ships to lie in great security, and a small stream of fresh water.’’ Cook wrote. Many large birds were seen, namely pelicans.
Upon the shore they saw a species of bustard, one of which was shot. It was like a large turkey and weighed seventeen and a half pounds. It was the best bird they had eaten since leaving England, and in honour of it they called the inlet Bustard Bay.
Cook’s party did not see any natives during their shore visit, but they did find campsites, fires and artefacts. From the ship, however, members of the Endeavour’s crew observed about 20 members of the Meerooni tribe on the beach. At 4.30am on Thursday 25 May 1770, Cook made sail out of the bay.
There is some conjecture about the origin of the name ‘’Agnes Water’’. Some believe the area was named after the schooner ‘’Agnes’’ which disappeared from nearby Pancake Creek in 1873. Others believe that the area was named after Agnes Clowes, the daughter of the first European settlers, Daniel and Rachel Clowes, who built large stockyards and ran cattle on the miles of unoccupied coastal country in 1878.
1770 Lt. James Cook anchored The Endeavour in Bustard Bay and landed at Round Hill Inlet on 24 May,
naming Bustard Bay and Bustard Head.
1802 Matthew Flinders sailed into Bustard Bay in The Investigator on 2 August, following Cook's charts and charting the name Round Hill
1857 The schooner Jenny Lind is run aground in Bustard Bay during a gale, and is later refloated.
1873 The schooner Agnes sails south out of Pancake Creek in June during bad weather.
It is never seen again, with no survivors or wreckage found.
The name Agnes Water is thought to be derived from this name.
However, there is some conjecture that possibly Agnes Water was named after the first settlers at Agnes Water Daniel and
Rachael Clowes daughter Agnes.
1873 The sailing ship Countess Russell run aground in August, at a beach south of Agnes Water known today as Wreck Rock.
Its anchor is displayed at Round Hill Head.
1868 Bustard Head lighthouse is commissioned, with Thomas Rooksby the first light keeper.
1878 Agnes Water Station commences, owned by the Clowes.
1936 the name Town of 1770 is made official, commemorate Cook's landing
