Lakeland is a relatively recent settlement, built to service the agricultural activities in
Laura Valley. Lying at
the junction of the Mulligan Way to
Cooktown and the Peninsula Development Road, the business community caters for passing traffic.
Lakeland's name does not relate to the terrain.
The settlement was named after Billy Lakeland who first marked trails to
Coen and Batavia (Wenlock). Not a bad chap to know - he found gold and wolfram on the Peninsula as
well.
Today the Lakeland region boasts a variety of crops including pawpaw, sunflower, teak, sandalwood, watermelon, African mahogany, passion fruit, pineapples, pongamia (a tree which produces a diesel substitute), seeds for fodder, and 2 large banana farms. Swiss Farms are also leaders in the production of compost for their own and others agricultural use thus reducing the need for fertilisers.
There are also still several working cattle properties in the region.
The Lakeland township is located 81 km south west of
Cooktown at
the junction of the Mulligan Highway and the Peninsula Development Road. Although small it
services this busy region and is a popular stopping place for travelers and locals going to
Cape York.
There is a roadhouse, coffee
shop and store, hotel and caravan park that offers accommodation and safe van storage.