Ward River
From headwaters that rise approximately 12 kilometres from Cape York Peninsula's west coast, the Ward River flows south across the coastal plain to discharge into Archer Bay, along with the Archer and Watson Rivers, north of Aurukun and then onto the Gulf of Carpentaria. The Ward's tributaries are Coconut, Tappelbang, Sandy and Possum Creeks.The river's infall, on the right or north bank of the Watson is the site where Nicholas Hey established Aurukun Mission in October, 1891
Robert Logan Jack's Northmost Australia suggests the Ward may be the stream Carstensz named the Coen in 1623:
On the night of the 7th, the anchorage was in 13° 7' S., as ascertained while the ship was still at anchor at noon on the following day. Next morning, Carstenszoon himself landed with the skipper and ten musketeers and did not get back to the ship till the afternoon. They had had a busy and successful day. Having observed FOOTPRINTS Of men and dogs, they FOLLOWED THEM TO THE NORTH till they came on a "revier," which they named the COEN, after the Governor of the Netherlands India Company. It is not said whether the water was salt or fresh, nor is mention made of any opening being visible from the sea. From the course (parallel to the coast-line and only 7 miles from it) now known to be taken by the WARD RIVER, it is impossible that the Coen River can be of any importance as a water-course, and equally impossible that it can be the river on which the goldfield was subsequently discovered. What was, however, of importance was that its banks yielded ESCULENT HERBS, which the sailors gathered and carried back to the boat. To a crew of those days, in constant dread of scurvy, the herbs were of inestimable value.' On returning to the boat, they were attacked by the NATIVES, whom they beat off, making one PRISONER. It was a busy day, and we can only conjecture how far the men travelled on foot north of the landing in 13° 7', in the time when they were not gathering herbs, fighting or rowing. When they got back to the "Pera," her anchor was lifted and she resumed her voyage to the north. It is easy to recognise, from the log, that in due time they passed PERA HEAD, With its "watering-place," and crossed ALBATROSS BAY to DUYFKEN POINT.
