58-564: Cape Grafton is a cape located to the north-east of Cairns in Queensland , Australia. The cape was named by Lieutenant James Cook during his first voyage of discovery in 1770. It was named after Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton , the British prime minister when Cook sailed. Cook set anchor two miles from the shore and briefly inspected the cape with botanists Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander . The Aboriginal community of Yarrabah
116-493: A tropical monsoon climate ( Am ) under the Köppen climate classification . A wet season with heavy monsoonal downpours runs from November to May, with a relatively dry season from June to October, though light showers occur during this period. Cairns's mean annual rainfall is just under 2,000 millimetres (79 in), although monthly totals in the wet season from December to April can exceed 1,000 mm (39 in), with
174-493: A beche de mer fisherman, over the use of this well. The area from this date was subsequently called Battle Camp . In 1876, hastened by the need to export gold mined from the Hodgkinson goldfields on the tablelands to the west, closer investigation by several official expeditions established its potential for development into a port. Brinsley G. Sheridan surveyed the area and selected a place further up Trinity Inlet known to
232-586: A large Papua New Guineans community. Approximately 10,000 Papua New Guineans live in Cairns, more than anywhere outside of Papua New Guinea itself. Cairns is located on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula on a coastal strip between the Coral Sea and the Great Dividing Range . The northern part of the city is located on Trinity Bay and the city centre is located on Trinity Inlet . To
290-462: A major capacity in aviation, marine and defence industries. The city has a gross regional product at about $ 11.4 billion as of 2023. The city is served by Cairns International Airport , the seventh busiest airport in Australia . Cairns also has a major cruise ship industry servicing both domestic and international markets, with terminals at Cairns Seaport and Cairns Wharf Complex . Cairns
348-409: A major part in the Cairns economy . According to Tourism Australia , the Cairns region is the fourth-most-popular destination for international tourists in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. While the city does not rank amongst Australia's top 10 destinations for domestic tourism, it attracts a significant number of Australian holiday makers despite its distance from major capitals. There
406-464: A number of heritage-listed sites, including Kairi Maize Silos Kairi State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at McGeehan Street ( 17°12′54″S 145°32′45″E / 17.2151°S 145.5459°E / -17.2151; 145.5459 ( Kairi State School ) ). In 2015, it had an enrolment of 91 students with 6 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 5 non-teaching staff (3 full-time equivalent). In 2018,
464-576: A pleasant dry season from May to October. Modified by its elevation , average maxima vary from 28.8 °C (83.8 °F) in December to 21.1 °C (70.0 °F) in July and average minima fluctuate between 19.5 °C (67.1 °F) in February and 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) in July. Mean average annual precipitation is 1,300.5 mm (51.20 in), spread between 94.0 precipitation days (above
522-535: A population of approximately 60,000. Both local government authorities had chambers in the Cairns CBD . The old Cairns City Council chambers has been converted into a new city library. In a controversial decision, new Council chambers were constructed on previously contaminated land in the mainly industrial suburb of Portsmith. Cairns has three representatives in the Queensland Parliament , from
580-702: A town on the Barron River on the western side of the Macalister Range, forms part of the Cairns economic catchment but is in the Tablelands local government area and is not part of the Cairns urban area.) The city centre of Cairns is adjacent to the suburbs of Cairns North , and Parramatta Park , Bungalow , Portsmith , and close to Westcourt , Manunda , Manoora , Edge Hill , Whitfield , Kanimbla , City View, Mooroobool , Earlville , Woree and Bayview Heights . The small suburb of Aeroglen
638-463: Is 719 metres (2,359 ft) above sea level. Kairi railway station is an abandoned railway station ( 17°12′59″S 145°32′29″E / 17.2165°S 145.5413°E / -17.2165; 145.5413 ( Kairi railway station ) ) on the now-closed Millaa Milla branch of the Tablelands railway line . Kairi has a dry-winter humid subtropical climate ( Köppen: Cwa), with very warm and humid wet season from November to April and
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#1732798450412696-708: Is a major tourist destination, with access to two UNESCO world heritage sites; the Daintree Rainforest as part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland , and the Great Barrier Reef , one of the seven natural wonders of the world . Prior to British settlement , the Cairns area was inhabited by the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people, who still claim their native title rights . Yidinji (also known as Yidinj, Yidiny, and Idindji)
754-418: Is a partner of the hub, researching tropical agriculture , aquaculture and biosecurity . In the 2006 census , the town of Kairi had a population of 193 people. In the 2011 census , the locality of Kairi had a population of 460 people. In the 2016 census , the locality of Kairi had a population of 442 people. In the 2021 census , the locality of Kairi had a population of 490 people. Kairi has
812-635: Is a rural town and locality in the Tablelands Region , Queensland , Australia. In the 2021 census , the locality of Kairi had a population of 490 people. Kairi is on the Atherton Tableland in Far North Queensland . It is close to Lake Tinaroo and the closest more populous place is Tinaroo , which is 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) North of Kairi. It is 1,698 kilometres (1,055 mi) by road NNW from Brisbane and
870-531: Is also a growing interest in Cairns from the Chinese leisure market with regular scheduled direct flights from Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Guangzhou. During the 2013 Chinese Lunar New Year period alone, Cairns saw 20,000 Chinese holidaymakers flying in on chartered flights. The city is near the Great Barrier Reef , the Wet Tropics of Queensland , and the Atherton Tableland . Great Barrier Reef tours that operate from Cairns are very popular and hence Cairns
928-766: Is also considered as the gateway to Great Barrier Reef. The Cairns esplanade includes a swimming lagoon with adjoining barbecue areas. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon opened in March 2003. Though initially controversial, the 4800-square-metre pool has proved a very popular local attraction since its opening. In May 2003, the then Cairns Mayor Kevin Byrne declared that topless sunbathing is permitted here. Many leisure activities are conducted in this area, including flea market, sports classes and many more. Several shopping centres of various sizes are located throughout Cairns. The largest of these are Cairns Central shopping centre, located in
986-484: Is an Australian Aboriginal language . Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region and Tablelands Region , in such localities as Cairns, Gordonvale , and the Mulgrave River , and the southern part of the Atherton Tableland including Atherton and Kairi . The area in which the city is located is known in the local Yidiny language as Gimuy, and the clan who inhabited
1044-649: Is approximately 52 km (32 mi) from north to south; it has experienced a recent urban sprawl , with suburbs occupying land once used for sugar cane farming. The Northern Beaches consist of a number of beach communities extending north along the coast. In general, each beach suburb is at the end of a spur road extending from the Captain Cook Highway . From south to north, these are Machans Beach , Holloways Beach , Yorkeys Knob , Trinity Park , Trinity Beach , Kewarra Beach , Clifton Beach , Palm Cove , and Ellis Beach . The suburb of Smithfield
1102-484: Is governed by a Regional Council. The Council consists of a directly elected mayor and 9 councillors, elected from 9 single-member divisions (or wards) using an optional preferential voting system. Elections are held every four years. The Cairns Region consists of three former local government areas. The first was the original City of Cairns , consisting of the Cairns City region as listed above. The second, which
1160-551: Is inland against the mountains of the Great Dividing Range, between Yorkeys Knob and Trinity Park. It serves as the main hub for the Northern Beaches, with a modern shopping arcade, called Smithfield Shopping Centre. South of Smithfield and inland from the Northern Beaches along the edge of the Barron River flood plain are the suburbs of Caravonica , Kamerunga , Freshwater , and Stratford . This area
1218-417: Is located here. It was founded by John Gribble in 1892. The cape provides protection to an extensive population of mangroves in the south of Trinity Bay . Gunggay (also known as Gunggandji, Kongandji, Kongkandji, Gungganyji, Idindji and Yidiny) is an Aboriginal language of Far North Queensland . The Gunggay language region of Cape Grafton includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of
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#17327984504121276-480: Is pressed between Mount Whitfield and the airport, on the Captain Cook Highway between Cairns North and Stratford. Southside Cairns , situated in a narrow area between Trinity Inlet to the east and Lamb Range to the west, includes the suburbs of White Rock , Mount Sheridan , Bentley Park and Edmonton . The townships of Goldsborough , Little Mulgrave , and Aloomba are near Gordonvale , on
1334-500: Is prone to tropical cyclones, usually forming between November and May. Cyclones that have affected the Cairns region include: Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 caused record flooding. The Barron River exceeded the March 1977 record of 3.8 metres (12 ft), making it the worst flooding event in Cairns since records began in 1915. The City Library, operated by the Cairns Regional Council , opened in 1979 and
1392-533: Is situated at 151 Abbott Street. A major refurbishment was undertaken in 1999 and a further minor refurbishment was implemented in 2011. Public accessible wifi is available. Current Library services and collections can be accessed from the Cairns Libraries website. Cairns has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Cairns is part of the Cairns Region local government area which
1450-466: Is sometimes referred to as Freshwater Valley, though it is actually the lower part of Redlynch Valley; further up the valley are the suburbs of Redlynch , on the western side of Redlynch Valley, and Brinsmead on the eastern side. Stratford, Freshwater, and Brinsmead are separated from Cairns city by Mount Whitfield (elevation 365 m (1,198 ft)) and Whitfield Range. Crystal Cascades and Copperlode Falls Dam are also behind this range. ( Kuranda ,
1508-429: The Cairns Regional Council and Yarrabah Community Council. Cairns Cairns ( / ˈ k ɛər n z / ; Yidiny : Gimuy ) is a city in the Cairns Region , Queensland , Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland . In the 2021 census , Cairns had a population of 153,181 people. The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns , following
1566-612: The Goldsborough Valley . A Special Forces training base was established at the old " Fairview " homestead on Munro's Hill, Mooroobool . This base was officially known as the Z Experimental Station , but referred to informally as "The House on the Hill". After World War II, Cairns gradually developed into a centre for tourism. The opening of the Cairns International Airport in 1984 helped establish
1624-550: The Mulgrave River , and the southern part of the Atherton Tableland including Atherton and Kairi. Kairi State School opened on 24 July 1911. The establishment of a State Farm at Kairi by the Queensland Government was announced in May 1911. Fifty acres of land was initially cleared for the farm, which was to focus on dairying and pigs initially. Drummond MacPherson was transferred from his role as manager of
1682-595: The three Australian commercial television networks ( 10 , Seven and Nine ), and public broadcasters the ABC and SBS services. All three main commercial networks produce local news coverage – Seven Queensland and WIN Television both air 30-minute local news bulletins at 6pm each weeknight, produced from newsrooms in the city but broadcast from studios in Maroochydore and Wollongong respectively. Southern Cross 10 airs regional 10 News First updates throughout
1740-853: The "Four Districts" in Toishan. Some also came from Sam Yap or "Three Districts." " As the 20th century progressed the Cairns Chinatown declined. "Australian Born Chinese showed little interest in maintaining the Chinese enclave. Many were westernised having at least one European parent or grandparent, or had themselves grown up assimilated into the broader Cairns community through their experiences at school. Neither cultural tastes, nor race relations, provided an incentive for Australian born Chinese to remain living in Chinatown. The barriers causing racial residential segregation were removed and many families lived outside Chinatown." The Cairns Parish of
1798-716: The 'largest ever yet held in Northern Queensland'. On 25 April 1926 ( ANZAC Day ), the Cairns Sailors and Soldiers War Memorial was unveiled by Alexander Frederick Draper , the mayor of the City of Cairns . During World War II, the Allied Forces used Cairns as a staging base for operations in the Pacific, with United States Army Air Forces and Royal Australian Air Force operational bases (now
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1856-475: The 1.0 mm (0.039 in) threshold). Extreme temperatures have ranged from 38.9 °C (102.0 °F) on 6 January 1994 to −0.5 °C (31.1 °F) on 16 June 1978, 2 July 1984 and 3 August 1990. Yidinji (also known as Yidinj , Yidiny , and Idindji ) is an Australian Aboriginal language . Its traditional language region is within the local government areas of Cairns Region and Tablelands Region , in such localities as Cairns , Gordonvale , and
1914-468: The Chinese population accounted for 60% of all farmers and 90% of gardeners, that is 795 cultivators and gardeners." As agricultural changes and the White Australia policy impacted the Chinese population of Cairns, including its once thriving Chinatown declined. A Police census stated the Chinese population of Cairns was 450 in 1909, a decrease of around 1,000 since 1901. "Grafton Street, Cairns
1972-665: The Mulgrave River. This area is serviced by the Bruce Highway . Several other small towns and communities within Cairns's jurisdiction are sparsely located along the Bruce Highway, the furthest being Bramston Beach , 81 km (50 mi) south of the Cairns CBD ; the largest of these townships is Babinda , about 60 km (37 mi) from the city. Cairns experiences a tropical climate , specifically
2030-641: The Queensland Department of Agriculture. In October 2011, most of the land (209 hectares) of the former state farm / research station was sold by the Queensland Government, retaining only 26 hectares. The sale of the land was to fund the establishment of the Agri-Science Hub at Peters Street, Mareeba . The hub focusses on agricultural research and development, together with education and training. James Cook University
2088-644: The Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Cooktown (now the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns ) was established in 1884. Debris from the construction of a railway to Herberton on the Atherton Tableland, a project which started in 1886, was also used. The railway opened up land later used for agriculture on the lowlands (sugar cane, corn, rice, bananas, pineapples), and for fruit and dairy production on
2146-639: The Tableland. The success of local agriculture helped establish Cairns as a port, and the creation of a harbour board in 1906 supported its robust economic future. The Wharf Estate Cairns went on sale in Brisbane via auction on 19 February 1889 by John Macnamara & Co. Land Auctioneers. The land was part of the place known as the Railway Reserve. The sale was described by the Auctioneers as
2204-573: The airport), as well as a major military seaplane base, Naval Base Cairns , in Trinity Inlet, and United States Navy and Royal Australian Navy bases near the current wharf. Combat missions were flown out of Cairns in support of the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. Edmonton and White Rock south of Cairns were major military supply areas and U.S. Paratroopers trained at Gordonvale and
2262-423: The beginning of the agricultural industry, which became the dominant industry." "The growing agricultural industry in the Cairns region provided the impetus for Cairns Chinatown to develop as Chinese men turned to support industries such as market gardening and shop keeping. They were not only ex-miners, but a growing number of immigrants arriving directly from China to take advantage of the agricultural boom. In 1886
2320-492: The central business district (CBD), and Stockland Cairns, located in the suburb of Earlville. In Westcourt, one of the city's oldest shopping centres has been refurbished, with the city's first DFO . To service the needs of suburbs further from the city centre, shopping complexes are also located at Mount Sheridan, Redlynch, Smithfield, and Clifton Beach. In 2010, the state government opened the second stage of William McCormack Place, an A$ 80 million office building credited as
2378-431: The city as a desirable destination for international tourism particularly from the emerging Japanese market. In the 2016 census , the urban area of Cairns had a population of 144,730 people. In the 2021 census , the urban area of Cairns had a population of 153,181 people. Due to Far North Queensland's close proximity to Melanesia , the region has a large number of people of Melanesian origin. Cairns notably has
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2436-640: The community radio stations are 4CCR-FM (Cairns FM 89.1), 101.9 Coast FM, Vision Christian Radio , Orbit FM 88.0FM & 87.8FM and 4CIM 98.7FM (Bumma Bippera Media). The land around Cairns is still used for sugar cane farming, although this land is increasingly under pressure from new suburbs as the city grows. The Mulgrave Sugar Mill is located in Gordonvale ( 17°05′34″S 145°47′20″E / 17.0929°S 145.7889°E / -17.0929; 145.7889 ( Mulgrave Sugar Mill ) ). Kairi, Queensland Kairi / ˈ k ɛər aɪ /
2494-527: The community was divided according to place of origin with storekeepers on the eastern side of Sachs Street predominantly Sze Yap, and Chung Shan storekeepers and merchants on the western side. Nearly all Chinese immigrants to Cairns were from Guangdong Province in the Southern Delta area of China. Most came from Loong Dou, a small distinct district in Chung Shan, with a smaller group from Sze Yap or
2552-455: The day, broadcast from Hobart . Cairns radio stations include a number of public, commercial and community broadcasters. The ABC broadcasts ABC Far North , ABC Radio National , ABC NewsRadio , ABC Classic FM and the Triple J youth network. Commercial radio stations include Star 102.7 , 4CA 846 AM, Hot FM (now Hit Network ), Sea FM (now Triple M ) and 104.3 4TAB sports radio, while
2610-468: The diggers as Smith's Landing for a settlement which he renamed Thornton . However, after Native Police officers Alexander Douglas-Douglas and Robert Arthur Johnstone opened a new track from the goldfields to Battle Camp, this more coastal site became preferable. The area was named Cairns in late 1876 in honour of the then Governor of Queensland, William Cairns. The site was predominantly mangrove swamps and sand ridges. Labourers gradually cleared
2668-477: The discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River . During World War II , the city became a staging ground for the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea . By the late 20th century the city had become a centre of international tourism . In the early 21st century, it has developed into a major regional city. The economy of Cairns is based primarily on tourism, healthcare and education, along with
2726-552: The electoral districts of Barron River , Cairns and Mulgrave . The city is represented in the Federal Parliament by representatives elected from the districts of Leichhardt and Kennedy . Cairns serves as the major commercial centre for the Far North Queensland and Cape York Peninsula Regions. It is a base for the regional offices of various government departments. Tourism plays
2784-541: The first 6-star green star-rated building in the city. The Cairns Post , published by Rupert Murdoch 's News Corp. is the main daily newspaper published in the city. Widely available are also The Courier-Mail , a daily newspaper published in Brisbane, and the national broadsheet The Australian , which both are also published by News Corp. Cairns is served by five television stations, three commercial television stations ( WIN Television , Seven Queensland and Southern Cross 10 ) which are regional affiliates of
2842-475: The highest monthly rainfall being recorded in January 1981, when over 1,417.4 mm (55.80 in) of rain fell. In contrast, as little as 721 millimetres or 28.39 inches fell in the record dry calendar year of 2002. Cairns has hot, humid summers and very warm winters. Mean maximum temperatures vary from 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) in July to 31.7 °C (89.1 °F) in January. Monsoonal activity during
2900-527: The region before colonisation are the Gimuy-walubarra clan. From 1770 to the early 1870s the area was known to the British simply as Trinity Bay . The arrival of beche de mer fishermen from the late 1860s saw the first European presence in the area. On the site of the modern-day Cairns foreshore, there was a large native well which was used by these fishermen. A violent confrontation occurred in 1872 between local Yidinji people and Phillip Garland,
2958-490: The south of the Trinity Inlet lies the Aboriginal community of Yarrabah . Some of the city's suburbs are located on flood plains. The Mulgrave River and Barron River flow within the greater Cairns area but not through the Cairns CBD . The city's centre foreshore is located on a mud flat. Cairns is a provincial city, with a linear urban layout that runs from the south at Edmonton to the north at Ellis Beach . The city
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#17327984504123016-502: The state farm at Biggenden to manage the Kairi State Farm. By March 1912, the state farm was growing maize , cow pea , rhodes grass , pumpkins , sugar melons and cucumbers . The State Farm closed in 1929, apart from the piggery which operated for a few years longer. From 1929, the farm was operated by commercial interests. In 1932, it was proposed that Kairi State Farm should become an agricultural college, focusing on
3074-504: The swamps, and the sand ridges were filled with dried mud, sawdust from local sawmills, and ballast from a quarry at Edge Hill. Throughout the late 19th century, Cairns prospered from the settlement of Chinese immigrants who helped develop the region's agriculture. Soon after Cairns was established "a few entrepreneurial Chinese men began to experiment with crops such as cotton, tobacco, coffee, rice, sugar, and bananas, while market gardeners grew much needed fruit and vegetables. This marked
3132-544: The tropical agriculture of northern Queensland, while the Gatton Agricultural College would focus on the agriculture of southern Queensland. The idea of an agricultural college was very popular but little progress was made on actually establishing it. In 1944, the state farm was taken over by the Australian Army to supply vegetables and eggs for the armed forces during World War II . After
3190-417: The war in 1946, the state farm was used to establish a regional experimentation station to address the declining productivity of the soils on the Atherton Tableland. Although the end of the war brought renewed interest in establishing an agricultural college, it was announced in 1954 that there was no prospect of the college being established. In March 1962, the state farm became an official Research Station of
3248-480: The wet season occasionally causes major flooding of the Barron and Mulgrave Rivers, cutting off-road and rail access to the city. Cairns has 97.0 clear days, annually. Dewpoint in the wet season (summer) averages at 23 °C (73 °F). The average temperature of the sea ranges from 23.8 °C (74.8 °F) in July to 29.4 °C (84.9 °F) in January. Like most of North and Far North Queensland, Cairns
3306-506: Was amalgamated in 1995, was the Shire of Mulgrave (comprising the other areas, namely the Northern Beaches, Redlynch Valley and Southside). The town of Gordonvale was once called Nelson. The third area is the Shire of Douglas , which amalgamated in 2008 during major statewide local government reforms and then de-amalgamated in 2014. At the time of the 1995 amalgamation, Cairns City had a population of approximately 40,000 and Mulgrave Shire had
3364-486: Was the historical site for Cairns Chinatown - the largest and longest running Chinese community outside Brisbane from the 1880s until the mid 1940s. Supporting a diverse population of Chinese settlers, entrepreneurs, women and families, ..." "From the early 1880s when the Lily Creek Chinese camp moved into Sachs Street, Chinatown was a busy and thriving community. According to Cathie May, the social structure of
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