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{{about|the city in Australia|the stack|Cairn|other uses|Cairns (disambiguation)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox Australian place
| type                = city
| name                = Cairns
| native_name         = {{nativename|yii|Gimuy}}
| state               = qld
| image               = {{multiple image
  | total_width              = 270
  | border                   = infobox
  | perrow                   = 1/2/2/1
  | caption_align            = center
  | image1 = Cairns (Queensland) (cropped).jpg{{!}} Cairns CBD
  |caption1 = [[Cairns City, Queensland|Cairns CBD]] 
  | image2 = Cairns City Library, Queensland, 2020, 01.jpg{{!}} Cairns City Library
  |caption2 = [[Cairns City Council Chambers|Cairns City Library]]
  | image3 = Cairns Regional Gallery, Queensland, 2020, 03.jpg{{!}}Cairns Regional Gallery
  |caption3 = [[Cairns Regional Gallery]]
  | image4 = Esplanade, Cairns, near ShangriLa Hotel - panoramio.jpg{{!}}Esplanade
  |caption4 = Esplanade
  | image5 = Cairns Esplanade Lagoon Pool, Esplanade, Cairns, Queensland, Australia - panoramio.jpg
|caption5 = Cairns Marina and Lagoon
}}
| coordinates         = {{coord|-16.92|145.78|type:city_region:AU-QLD|display=inline,title|name=Cairns (town centre)}}
| relief              = yes
| alternative_location_map = Queensland#Australia#Oceania
| pop                 = 169,312
| pop_year            = 2021
| pop_footnotes       = <ref name=Census2021 />
| elevation           = 7
| established         = 1876
| postcode            = 4870
| timezone            = [[AEST]]
| utc                 = +10:00
| dist1               = 68 <!-- road distances as per template instructions -->
| dir1                = SSE
| location1           = [[Port Douglas]]
| dist2               = 347
| dir2                = NNW
| location2           = [[Townsville]]
| dist3               = 1064
| dir3                = NW
| location3          = [[Rockhampton]]
| dist4               = 1695 
| dir4                = NNW
| location4           = [[Brisbane]]
| poprank             = 15th
| area                = 254.3
| lga                 = Cairns Region
| county              = [[County of Nares|Nares]]
| stategov            = [[Electoral district of Cairns|Cairns]]
| stategov2           = [[Electoral district of Barron River|Barron River]]
| stategov3           = [[Electoral district of Mulgrave (Queensland)|Mulgrave]]
| fedgov              = [[Division of Leichhardt|Leichhardt]]
| fedgov2             = [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]]
| maxtemp             = 29.4
| mintemp             = 21.0
| rainfall            = 1981.5
}}

'''Cairns''' ({{IPAc-en|audio= EnAU-Cairns.ogg|ˈ|k|ɛər|n|z}}; {{langx|yii|Gimuy}}) is a city in the [[Cairns Region]], [[Queensland]], Australia,<ref>{{Cite QPN|5683|Cairns|city|access-date=26 June 2017}}</ref> on the tropical north east coast of [[Far North Queensland]]. In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, Cairns had a population of 169,312 people.<ref name="Census2021" />

The city was founded in 1876 and named after [[William Cairns|Sir William Wellington Cairns]], following the discovery of gold in the [[Hodgkinson Minerals Area|Hodgkinson River]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=9 October 1876 |title=The Electoral Rolls. |page=3 |work=[[The Telegraph (Brisbane)]] |issue=1,246 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174709204 |access-date=5 September 2018 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201131931/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174709204 |url-status=live }}</ref>  During [[World War II]], the city became a staging ground for the [[Allies of World War II|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 a major capacity in aviation, marine and defence industries.<ref>{{cite web|title = Key industries in Cairns| date=27 October 2021 |url = https://choose.cairns.qld.gov.au/work/key-industries|access-date = 9 December 2023|publisher = Choose Cairns|archive-date = 9 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231209055507/https://choose.cairns.qld.gov.au/work/key-industries|url-status = live}}</ref>
The city has a [[Gross regional domestic product|gross regional product]] at about $12.2 billion as of 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title = Cairns Regional Council: economic profile|url = https://economy.id.com.au/cairns|access-date = 9 December 2023|publisher = .idcommunity|archive-date = 9 December 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231209055507/https://economy.id.com.au/cairns|url-status = live}}</ref> The city is served by [[Cairns Airport|Cairns International Airport]], the [[List of the busiest airports in Australia|seventh-busiest airport in Australia]]. Cairns also has a major [[cruise ship]] industry servicing both domestic and international markets, with terminals at [[Ports North|Cairns Seaport]] and [[Cairns Wharf Complex]].

Cairns is a major tourist destination, with access to two [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO world heritage]] sites: the [[Daintree Rainforest]] as part of the [[Wet Tropics of Queensland]], and the [[Great Barrier Reef]], one of the [[Wonders of the World#Seven Natural Wonders of the World|seven natural wonders of the world]].

==History==
{{Main|History of Cairns}}

Prior to [[colonialism|British settlement]], the Cairns area was inhabited by the Gimuy Walubara [[Yidiny people|Yidinj]]i people,<ref name="Dixon01">{{Cite book |last=Dixon, R. M. W. |title=Cambridge Studies in Linguistics |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1977 |isbn=0-521-14242-3 |page=19 |chapter=A grammar of Yidiny |author-link=R. M. W. Dixon}}</ref><ref name=cairnsindigenous/> who still claim their [[Native title in Australia|native title rights]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native Title in the News – April 2013 |url=http://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/products/native_title_in_the_news/ntnapr13.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150424060405/http://aiatsis.gov.au/sites/default/files/products/native_title_in_the_news/ntnapr13.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2015 |access-date=5 May 2015 |website=aiatsis.gov.au |publisher=Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies |df=dmy-all}}</ref>  [[Yidiny language|Yidinji]] (also known as Yidinj, Yidiny, and Idindji) is an [[Australian Aboriginal languages|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, Queensland|Gordonvale]], and the [[Mulgrave River]], and the southern part of the [[Atherton Tableland]] including [[Atherton, Queensland|Atherton]] and [[Kairi, Queensland|Kairi]]. The area in which the city is located  is known in the local Yidiny language as Gimuy,<ref name="Dixon01" /> and the clan who inhabited the region before colonisation are the Gimuy-walubarra clan.<ref name=cairnsindigenous>{{cite web | title=Indigenous culture and history | website=[[Cairns Regional Council]] | url=https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/first-people/culture-history | access-date=5 July 2021 | archive-date=9 April 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409215848/https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/community-environment/first-people/culture-history | url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:NativeWellsCairns.png|thumb|left|1874 map showing native wells situated within the future site of Cairns]]
From 1770 to the early 1870s, the area was known to the British simply as [[Trinity Bay (Queensland)|Trinity Bay]]. The arrival of [[sea cucumber as food|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, a beche de mer fisherman, over the use of this well. The area from this date was subsequently called '''Battle Camp'''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 December 1904 |title=SKETCHER. |page=8 |work=[[The Queenslander]] |issue=2021 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20351698 |access-date=5 September 2018 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201131932/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20351698 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1876, hastened by the need to export gold mined from the [[Hodgkinson Minerals Area|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 the diggers as '''Smith's Landing''' for a settlement which he renamed '''Thornton'''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 October 1876 |title=TRINITY BAY. |page=2 |work=[[Mackay Mercury And South Kennedy Advertiser]] |issue=550 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169858977 |access-date=5 September 2018 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201131953/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169858977 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=9 October 1876 |title=THORNTON. |page=3 |work=[[Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]] |issue=1,246 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174709206 |access-date=5 September 2018 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 September 1876 |title=HODGKINSON GOLD-FIELD TO TRINITY BAY. |page=3 |work=[[Telegraph (Brisbane)|The Telegraph]] |issue=1,234 |location=Queensland, Australia |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174708058 |access-date=5 September 2018 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201131956/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174708058 |url-status=live }}</ref> The area was named Cairns in late 1876 in honour of the then Governor of Queensland, William Cairns.<ref name=":4" /> The site was predominantly [[mangrove]] swamps and sand ridges. Labourers gradually cleared 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 [[Chinese Australians|the settlement of Chinese immigrants]] who helped develop the region's agriculture.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns City Chinese heritage trail |url=https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/explorer/trail/?id=cairns-city-chinese-heritage |access-date=2024-03-12 |website=Queensland Heritage Register |publisher=Queensland Government |archive-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221117160236/https://apps.des.qld.gov.au/heritage-register/explorer/trail/?id=cairns-city-chinese-heritage |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 the beginning of the agricultural industry, which became the dominant industry."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Sandi |title=Cairns Chinatown: a heritage study A history of the Cairns Chinese community |date=2012 |publisher=Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc |page=3}}</ref> "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 the Chinese population accounted for 60% of all farmers and 90% of gardeners, that is 795 cultivators and gardeners."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Sandi |title=Cairns Chinatown: a heritage study A history of the Cairns Chinese community |date=2012 |publisher=Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc |page=19}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Queensland State Archives |title=Chinese Census |publisher=ITM86452}}</ref> "Grafton Street, Cairns 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, ..."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Sandi |title=Cairns Chinatown: a heritage study A history of the Cairns Chinese community |date=2012 |publisher=Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc |page=title page}}</ref> "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 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 the "Four Districts" in Toishan. Some also came from Sam Yap or "Three Districts." "<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Sandi |title=Cairns Chinatown: a heritage study A history of the Cairns Chinese community |date=2012 |publisher=Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc |page=18}}</ref> 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."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robb |first1=Sandi |title=Cairns Chinatown: a heritage study A history of the Cairns Chinese community |date=2012 |publisher=Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc |page=87}}</ref>

The Cairns Parish of the Roman Catholic Vicariate Apostolic of Cooktown (now the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]]) was established in 1884.<ref name=":2" />

[[File:Queensland State Archives 2220 Selectors Homestead 1897.png|thumb|left|Farm in Cairns in 1897]]
[[File:StateLibQld 1 139085 State Government Building at Cairns, ca. 1936.jpg|left|thumb|Cairns War Memorial, {{c.|1936}}]]
Debris from the construction of a railway to [[Herberton, Queensland|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 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Murray & Lyons Solicitors – Cairns Legal Practice |url=http://www.murraylyons.com.au/history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227205123/http://www.murraylyons.com.au/history |archive-date=27 February 2015 |access-date=5 May 2015 |website=www.murraylyons.com.au |df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ports North – Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal – History |url=http://www.cairnscruiselinerterminal.com.au/History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518080643/http://www.cairnscruiselinerterminal.com.au/History |archive-date=18 May 2015 |access-date=5 May 2015 |website=www.cairnscruiselinerterminal.com.au |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

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 the 'largest ever yet held in Northern Queensland'.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 February 1889 |title=Auction Sales |newspaper=Telegraph |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185520329# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225174908/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/185520329 |archive-date=25 December 2019 |access-date=24 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=26 April 1889 |title=Auction Sales |newspaper=Telegraph |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article174772504 |access-date=24 September 2019 |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201131929/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/174772504 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite document |date=19 February 1889 |title=The Wharf Estate, Cairns |hdl=10462/deriv/253188 |publisher=John McNamara & Co/McKellar lithographers |location=State Library of Queensland.}}</ref>

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]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=27 April 1926 |title=Memorial unveiled at Cairns. |page=8 |work=[[The Brisbane Courier]] |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article20993850 |access-date=6 April 2014 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=1 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201131912/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/20993850 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sailors and Soldiers War Memorial |url=http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/90962-sailors%60-and-soldiers%60-war-memorial |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407125046/http://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/90962-sailors%60-and-soldiers%60-war-memorial |archive-date=7 April 2014 |access-date=6 April 2014 |publisher=Monument Australia}}</ref>

During World War II, the [[Allies of World War II|Allied Forces]] used Cairns as a staging base for operations in the Pacific,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns |url=http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/cairns.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408134900/http://www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum/research/bases/cairns.htm |archive-date=8 April 2011 |access-date=13 April 2011 |website=[[RAAF Museum]] |publisher=Royal Australian Air Force}}</ref> with [[United States Army Air Forces]] and [[Royal Australian Air Force]] operational bases (now 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, Queensland|Edmonton]] and [[White Rock, Queensland (Cairns Region)|White Rock]] south of Cairns were major military supply areas and U.S. [[Paratrooper]]s trained at [[Gordonvale]] and the [[Goldsborough Valley]]. A Special Forces training base was established at the old "[[Fairview, Cairns|Fairview]]" homestead on Munro's Hill, [[Mooroobool, Queensland|Mooroobool]]. This base was officially known as the [[Z Experimental Station]], but referred to informally as "The House on the Hill".<ref>{{Cite book |last=McKie |first=Ronald |title=The Heroes |publisher=Angus & Robertson Ltd |year=1960 |isbn=0-207-12133-8 |location=Sydney |page=9}}</ref>

After World War II, Cairns gradually developed into a centre for tourism. The opening of the [[Cairns Airport|Cairns International Airport]] in 1984 helped establish the city as a desirable destination for [[international tourism]] particularly from the emerging Japanese market.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://tourism.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/what-we-do/our-history/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Tropical North Queensland |language=en-AU |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421042828/https://tourism.tropicalnorthqueensland.org.au/what-we-do/our-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==
In the {{CensusAU|2016}}, the urban area of Cairns had a population of 144,730 people.<ref name="Census2016">{{Census 2016 AUS|id=UCL303001|name=Cairns (UCL)|access-date=20 October 2018|quick=on}}</ref>

In the {{CensusAU|2021}}, the urban area of Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.<ref name="Census2021">{{Census 2021 AUS|id=UCL303001|name=Cairns (UCL)|access-date=28 February 2023|quick=on}}</ref>
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 9.7% of the population.<ref name="Census2021" />
* 68.2% of people were born in Australia. The next most common countries of birth were England 4.0%, New Zealand 2.9%, Papua New Guinea 1.5%, Philippines 1.3% and India 1.2%.<ref name="Census2021" />
* 76.1% of people only spoke English at home. Other languages spoken at home included Japanese 1.5%, Nepali 0.7%, Mandarin 0.7%, Punjabi 0.6%, and Creole languages 0.6%.<ref name="Census2021" />
* The most common responses for religion were No Religion 41.9%, Catholic 19.7%, Not stated 10.1%,  Anglican 9.8%, other Christian 2.8%.<ref name="Census2021" />

Due to Far North Queensland's close proximity to [[Melanesia]], the region has a large number of people of [[Melanesians|Melanesian]] origin. Cairns notably has a large [[Papua New Guinean Australians|Papua New Guineans]] community. Approximately 10,000 [[Papua New Guineans]] live in Cairns, more than anywhere outside of [[Papua New Guinea]] itself.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tradelinked-cairns-png.com/areas/ | title=Regions we visit | date=2 October 2018 | access-date=3 July 2024 | archive-date=18 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240718145033/https://www.tradelinked-cairns-png.com/areas/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Glass floor wide shot 2.jpg|thumb|The [[Skyrail Rainforest Cableway]] goes over the rainforest and is one of the city's main tourist attractions.]]
[[File:Goldsbrough.jpg|thumb|The Mulgrave River running through the Goldsbrough Valley to the south of Gordonvale]]
[[File:Fruit bats, Cairns.JPG|thumb|Fruit bats hanging from a mango tree, central Cairns]]
Cairns is located on the east coast of [[Cape York Peninsula]] on a coastal strip between the [[Coral Sea]] and the [[Great Dividing Range]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Geography - Cairns Australia |url=https://www.cairns-australia.com/cairns-geography.html |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=www.cairns-australia.com |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421042831/https://www.cairns-australia.com/cairns-geography.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The northern part of the city is located on [[Trinity Bay (Queensland)|Trinity Bay]] and the city centre is located on [[Trinity Inlet]]. To the south of the Trinity Inlet lies the [[Aboriginal Australian|Aboriginal]] community of [[Yarrabah]]. Some of the city's suburbs are located on flood plains. The [[Mulgrave River]] and [[Barron River (Queensland)|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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Urban layout===
[[File:Esplanade, Cairns, 2015 (01).JPG|thumb|left|City centre of Cairns]]

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 is approximately {{convert|52|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from north to south; it has experienced a recent [[urban sprawl]], with suburbs occupying land once used for sugar cane farming.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

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, Queensland|Machans Beach]], [[Holloways Beach, Queensland|Holloways Beach]], [[Yorkeys Knob, Queensland|Yorkeys Knob]], [[Trinity Park, Queensland|Trinity Park]], [[Trinity Beach, Queensland|Trinity Beach]], [[Kewarra Beach, Queensland|Kewarra Beach]], [[Clifton Beach, Queensland|Clifton Beach]], [[Palm Cove, Queensland|Palm Cove]], and [[Ellis Beach, Queensland|Ellis Beach]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The suburb of [[Smithfield, Queensland|Smithfield]] 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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

South of Smithfield and inland from the Northern Beaches along the edge of the Barron River [[flood plain]] are the suburbs of [[Caravonica, Queensland|Caravonica]], [[Kamerunga, Queensland|Kamerunga]], [[Freshwater, Queensland|Freshwater]], and [[Stratford, Queensland|Stratford]]. This area 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, Queensland|Redlynch]], on the western side of Redlynch Valley, and [[Brinsmead, Queensland|Brinsmead]] on the eastern side. Stratford, Freshwater, and Brinsmead are separated from Cairns city by Mount Whitfield (elevation {{convert|365|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}) and Whitfield Range. [[Crystal Cascades]] and [[Copperlode Falls Dam]] are also behind this range. ([[Kuranda, Queensland|Kuranda]], 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 Region|Tablelands local government]] area and is not part of the Cairns urban area.){{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The [[Cairns CBD|city centre of Cairns]] is adjacent to the suburbs of [[Cairns North]], and [[Parramatta Park, Queensland|Parramatta Park]], [[Bungalow, Queensland|Bungalow]], [[Portsmith]], and close to [[Westcourt, Queensland|Westcourt]], [[Manunda, Queensland|Manunda]], [[Manoora, Queensland|Manoora]], [[Edge Hill, Queensland|Edge Hill]], [[Whitfield, Queensland|Whitfield]], [[Kanimbla, Queensland|Kanimbla]], City View, [[Mooroobool, Queensland|Mooroobool]], [[Earlville, Queensland|Earlville]], [[Woree, Queensland|Woree]] and [[Bayview Heights, Queensland|Bayview Heights]]. The small suburb of [[Aeroglen, Queensland|Aeroglen]] is pressed between Mount Whitfield and the airport, on the Captain Cook Highway between [[Cairns North, Queensland|Cairns North]] and Stratford.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

''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, Queensland (Cairns Region)|White Rock]], [[Mount Sheridan, Queensland|Mount Sheridan]], [[Bentley Park, Queensland|Bentley Park]] and [[Edmonton, Queensland|Edmonton]]. The townships of [[Goldsborough, Queensland|Goldsborough]], [[Little Mulgrave, Queensland|Little Mulgrave]], and [[Aloomba, Queensland|Aloomba]] are near [[Gordonvale, Queensland|Gordonvale]], on 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, Queensland|Bramston Beach]], {{Convert|81|km|abbr=on}} south of the [[Cairns CBD]]; the largest of these townships is [[Babinda]], about {{Convert|60|km|abbr=on}} from the city.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Climate===
[[File:Children on tropical beach.jpg|thumb|Tropical beach near Cairns]]
Cairns experiences a tropical climate, specifically a [[tropical monsoon]] (''Am'') under the [[Köppen climate classification]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tapper |first1=Andrew |title=The weather and climate of Australia and New Zealand |last2=Tapper |first2=Nigel |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1996 |isbn=0-19-553393-3 |editor-last=Gray, Kathleen |edition=First |location=Melbourne, Australia |page=300}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Linacre |first1=Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkZa1KLHCAQC&pg=PA379 |title=Climates and Weather Explained |last2=Geerts, Bart |publisher=Routledge |year=1997 |isbn=0-415-12519-7 |location=London |page=379 |access-date=28 October 2020 |archive-date=24 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624104916/https://books.google.com/books?id=mkZa1KLHCAQC&lpg=PA379&pg=PA379 |url-status=live }}</ref> A [[wet season]] with heavy [[monsoon]]al downpours runs from November to May, with a relatively [[dry season]] from June to October, though light showers occur during this period.<ref name="CoC">{{Cite web |title=Climate of Cairns |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/cairns/climate.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320220732/http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/cairns/climate.shtml |archive-date=20 March 2011 |access-date=13 April 2011 |website=Bureau of Meteorology}}</ref> Cairns's mean annual rainfall is just under {{convert|2000|mm|in}}, although monthly totals in the wet season from December to April can exceed {{convert|1000|mm|in|abbr=on}}, with the highest monthly rainfall being recorded in January 1981, when over {{convert|1417.4|mm|in|abbr=on}} of rain fell.<ref name="ave">{{Cite web |title=Climate statistics for Cairns Aero AWS |url=http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031011_All.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111032613/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031011_All.shtml |archive-date=11 January 2012 |access-date=23 October 2011 |publisher=Bureau of Meteorology}}</ref> In contrast, as little as {{convert|721|mm|in|2|disp=or}} fell in the record dry calendar year of 2002.

Cairns has hot, humid summers and very warm winters.<ref name=CoC/> Mean maximum temperatures vary from {{convert|26.2|C|F}} in July to {{convert|31.7|C|F}} in January. [[Australian monsoon|Monsoonal activity]] during the wet season occasionally causes major [[flooding]] of the [[Barron River (Queensland)|Barron]] and [[Mulgrave River|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 {{convert|23|C|F}}. The average temperature of the sea ranges from {{convert|23.8|C|F}} in July to {{convert|29.4|C|F}} in January.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Sea Temperature &#124; Australia Water Temperatures |url=https://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/cairns.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160917212902/http://www.seatemperature.org/australia-pacific/australia/cairns.htm |archive-date=17 September 2016 |access-date=1 June 2017}}</ref>
{{Weather box
| location = Cairns (16º52'12"S, 145º45'00"E, 2 m AMSL) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 40.4
| Feb record high C = 40.0
| Mar record high C = 37.7
| Apr record high C = 36.8
| May record high C = 31.3
| Jun record high C = 30.8
| Jul record high C = 30.1
| Aug record high C = 31.4
| Sep record high C = 33.9
| Oct record high C = 36.0
| Nov record high C = 42.6
| Dec record high C = 40.5
| Jan high C = 31.7
| Feb high C = 31.5
| Mar high C = 30.9
| Apr high C = 29.6
| May high C = 28.0
| Jun high C = 26.6
| Jul high C = 26.2
| Aug high C = 27.0
| Sep high C = 28.7
| Oct high C = 29.9
| Nov high C = 31.1
| Dec high C = 31.8
| Jan mean C = 27.9
| Feb mean C = 27.8
| Mar mean C = 27.2
| Apr mean C = 25.8
| May mean C = 24.1
| Jun mean C = 22.6
| Jul mean C = 21.7
| Aug mean C = 22.2
| Sep mean C = 23.8
| Oct mean C = 25.4
| Nov mean C = 26.8
| Dec mean C = 27.8
| Jan low C = 24.0
| Feb low C = 24.1
| Mar low C = 23.4
| Apr low C = 22.0
| May low C = 20.1
| Jun low C = 18.5
| Jul low C = 17.2
| Aug low C = 17.3
| Sep low C = 18.8
| Oct low C = 20.8
| Nov low C = 22.5
| Dec low C = 23.7
| Jan record low C = 18.2
| Feb record low C = 17.9
| Mar record low C = 17.7
| Apr record low C = 13.0
| May record low C = 10.1
| Jun record low C = 6.2
| Jul record low C = 7.3
| Aug record low C = 7.8
| Sep record low C = 9.3
| Oct record low C = 12.4
| Nov record low C = 14.6
| Dec record low C = 17.1
| Jan avg record high C  = 35.2
| Feb avg record high C  = 35.1
| Mar avg record high C  = 33.6
| Apr avg record high C  = 31.7
| May avg record high C  = 30.2
| Jun avg record high C  = 28.9
| Jul avg record high C  = 28.6
| Aug avg record high C  = 29.3
| Sep avg record high C  = 31.2
| Oct avg record high C  = 32.4
| Nov avg record high C  = 33.9
| Dec avg record high C  = 35.0
| year avg record high C = 37.0
| Jan avg record low C  = 21.4
| Feb avg record low C  = 22.0
| Mar avg record low C  = 20.3
| Apr avg record low C  = 18.7
| May avg record low C  = 15.7
| Jun avg record low C  = 13.2
| Jul avg record low C  = 11.7
| Aug avg record low C  = 11.6
| Sep avg record low C  = 14.5
| Oct avg record low C  = 17.1
| Nov avg record low C  = 19.1
| Dec avg record low C  = 20.7
| year avg record low C = 10.5
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 388.7
| Feb precipitation mm = 475.5
| Mar precipitation mm = 367.4
| Apr precipitation mm = 178.1
| May precipitation mm = 81.0
| Jun precipitation mm = 42.6
| Jul precipitation mm = 35.5
| Aug precipitation mm = 26.6
| Sep precipitation mm = 28.4
| Oct precipitation mm = 63.4
| Nov precipitation mm = 85.1
| Dec precipitation mm = 185.9
| year precipitation mm = 1958.1
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 16.0
| Feb precipitation days = 15.7
| Mar precipitation days = 15.1
| Apr precipitation days = 14.4
| May precipitation days = 10.1
| Jun precipitation days = 7.2
| Jul precipitation days = 5.7
| Aug precipitation days = 4.5
| Sep precipitation days = 4.2
| Oct precipitation days = 6.2
| Nov precipitation days = 8.3
| Dec precipitation days = 10.9
| Jan afthumidity = 67
| Feb afthumidity = 71
| Mar afthumidity = 66
| Apr afthumidity = 65
| May afthumidity = 63
| Jun afthumidity = 61
| Jul afthumidity = 57
| Aug afthumidity = 56
| Sep afthumidity = 55
| Oct afthumidity = 57
| Nov afthumidity = 60
| Dec afthumidity = 64
| Jan dew point C = 22.9
| Feb dew point C = 23.6
| Mar dew point C = 21.9
| Apr dew point C = 20.4
| May dew point C = 18.5
| Jun dew point C = 16.7
| Jul dew point C = 15.1
| Aug dew point C = 15.3
| Sep dew point C = 16.7
| Oct dew point C = 18.5
| Nov dew point C = 20.3
| Dec dew point C = 21.9
| Jan sun = 213.9
| Feb sun = 175.2
| Mar sun = 204.6
| Apr sun = 210.0
| May sun = 220.1
| Jun sun = 210.0
| Jul sun = 232.5
| Aug sun = 251.1
| Sep sun = 270.0
| Oct sun = 279.0
| Nov sun = 258.0
| Dec sun = 241.8
| Jan percentsun = 54
| Feb percentsun = 50
| Mar percentsun = 55
| Apr percentsun = 61
| May percentsun = 63
| Jun percentsun = 63
| Jul percentsun = 67
| Aug percentsun = 69
| Sep percentsun = 74
| Oct percentsun = 73
| Nov percentsun = 67
| Dec percentsun = 60
| source 1 = [[Bureau of Meteorology]]<ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=031011&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal 
|title = Cairns Aero Climate Statistics (1991–2020) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] 
|access-date = July 14, 2024 
|archive-date = 14 July 2022 
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220714061847/http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/cvg/av?p_stn_num=031011&p_prim_element_index=0&p_comp_element_index=0&redraw=null&p_display_type=full_statistics_table&normals_years=1991-2020&tablesizebutt=normal 
|url-status = live 
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web 
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031011_All.shtml 
|title = Cairns Aero Climate Statistics (1941-2024) 
|publisher = [[Bureau of Meteorology]] 
|access-date = July 14, 2024 
|archive-date = 11 January 2012 
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120111032613/http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_031011_All.shtml 
|url-status = live 
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/
|title = Climate data online (Site number: 031011)
|publisher = Bureau of Meteorology
|access-date = 30 Jun 2025}}</ref>
}}

====Tropical cyclones====
Like most of North and Far North Queensland, Cairns is prone to tropical cyclones, usually forming between November and May.

Cyclones that have affected the Cairns region include:
<!--Please DO NOT add current cyclones unless something NOTABLE happens-->
* [[Cyclone Jasper]], 2023
* [[Cyclone Yasi]], 2011
* [[Cyclone Larry]], 2006
* [[Severe Tropical Cyclone Abigail (2001)|Cyclone Abigail]], 2001
* [[Cyclone Steve]], 2000
* [[Cyclone Rona]], 1999
* [[Cyclone Justin]], 1997

[[Cyclone Jasper]] in December 2023 caused record flooding. The [[Barron River (Queensland)|Barron River]] exceeded the March 1977 record of {{convert|3.8|metres}}, making it the worst flooding event in Cairns since records began in 1915.<ref name="abc-cairns-record-15-dec-23">{{cite news |last1=Jacques |first1=Owen |last2=Hilary |first2=Hilary |last3=and |first3=Staff |title=Cairns cut off with 'worst flood on record' as mayors call for help from Australian Defence Force |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-17/qld-flooding-fnq-cyclone-jasper-sunday/103238806 |access-date=25 December 2023 |work=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=17 December 2023 |language=en-AU |archive-date=16 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216232137/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-17/qld-flooding-fnq-cyclone-jasper-sunday/103238806 |url-status=live }} (updated 18 Dec 2023)</ref>

==Facilities==
The City Library, operated by the [[Cairns Regional Council]], opened in 1979<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=November 2017 |title=Queensland Public Library Statistical Bulletin 2016–17 |url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180130022546/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/388497/SLQ_StatsBulletin1617_20171109.pdf |archive-date=30 January 2018 |access-date=19 January 2018 |website=Public Library Connect}}</ref> and is situated at 151 Abbott Street.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=25 March 2015 |title=City Library |url=http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/cairns/city_library |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120912/http://www.plconnect.slq.qld.gov.au/networking/directory-of-public-libraries/branches/cairns/city_library |archive-date=19 January 2018 |access-date=19 January 2018 |website=Public Libraries Connect}}</ref>  A major refurbishment was undertaken in 1999 and a further minor refurbishment was implemented in 2011.<ref name=":0" />  Public accessible wifi is available.<ref name=":1" />  Current Library services and collections can be accessed from the Cairns Libraries website.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Libraries homepage |url=http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905020537/http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=19 January 2018 |website=Cairns Library}}</ref>

==Heritage listings==
Cairns has a number of [[heritage-listed]] sites, including:
* [[Cairns-to-Kuranda railway line]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15530|Cairns Railway, Section from Redlynch to Crooked Creek Bridge|600755|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Abbott Street: [[Dr EA Koch Memorial]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16441|Dr EA Koch Memorial|601681|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Abbott Street: [[Barrier Reef Hotel]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16369|Barrier Reef Hotel|601608|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Abbott Street: [[Bishop's House, Cairns|Bishop's House]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16484|Bishop's House|601747|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Abbott Street: [[St Monica's High School Administration Building]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16485|St Monica's High School Administration Building|601748|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 6A–8A Abbott Street: former [[Cairns Customs House]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15152|Cairns Customs House (former)|600377|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 38–40 Abbott Street: [[Cairns Court House]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15151|Cairns Court House Complex|600376|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 151 Abbott Street: [[Cairns City Council Chambers]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16337|Cairns City Council Chambers|601576|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 179 Abbott Street: [[St Joseph's Convent, Cairns|St Joseph's Convent]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16486|St Joseph's Convent|601749|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 183 Abbott Street: [[St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16697|St Monica's War Memorial Cathedral|601961|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Collins Avenue, Edge Hill: [[Flecker Botanical Gardens]]
* Collins Avenue, Edge Hill: [[WWII RAN Fuel Installation]]<ref>{{cite QHR|22226|WWII RAN Fuel Installation|602605|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Grafton Street: [[Cairns Control Room]], World War II Volunteer Defence Corps<ref>{{cite QHR|29196|World War II Volunteer Defence Corps, Cairns Control Room|602744|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 99 Grafton Street: former [[Cairns Chinatown]]<ref>{{cite QHR|2962|99 Grafton St|602511|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
*28D Grove Street, Parramatta Park: [[Grove Street Pensioners' Cottages]]<ref name="qhr2">{{cite QHR|Grove Street Pensioners' Cottages|602832|access-date=22 January 2018}}</ref>
* Lake Street: [[Bolands Centre]]<ref>{{cite QHR|2977|Bolands Centre|602536|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 37 Lake Street: former [[Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd Building]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15156|Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd (former)|600381|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 39–49 Lake Street: former [[Central Hotel, Cairns|Central Hotel]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15154|Central Court|600379|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 87 Lake Street: [[Hides Hotel]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15157|Hides Hotel|600382|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 93–105 Lake Street: former [[Cairns School of Arts|School of Arts]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15155|School of Arts, Cairns (former)|600380|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 399 Kamerunga Road, Redlynch: [[Xavier and Sadie Herbert's Cottage]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16476|Xavier and Sadie Herbert's Cottage (former)|601739|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 127–145 McLeod Street, Cairns North: [[McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15158|McLeod Street Pioneer Cemetery|600383|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 180 McLeod, Cairns North: [[Herries Private Hospital]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16873|Herries Private Hospital|602137|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Minnie Street: [[St Monica's Old Cathedral, Cairns|St Monica's Old Cathedral]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16487|St Monica's Old Cathedral|601750|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 8 Minnie Street: [[Cairns Masonic Temple]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16302|Cairns Masonic Temple|601539|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Sheridan Street, Cairns North: [[Cairns Technical College and High School Building]]<ref name="qhr">{{cite QHR|3050|Cairns Technical College and High School Building|602834|access-date=1 August 2014}}</ref>
* The Esplanade: [[Cairns War Memorial]]<ref>{{cite QHR|15153|Cairns War Memorial|600378|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 51 The Esplanade: former [[Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16649|Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers (former)|601913|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 183–185 The Esplanade, Cairns North: [[Floriana, Cairns|Floriana]]<ref>{{cite QHR|31331|Floriana|602738|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* Wharf Street: [[Cairns Wharf Complex]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16527|Cairns Wharf Complex|601790|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>
* 29 Wharf Street: former [[Jack and Newell Building]]<ref>{{cite QHR|16371|Jack and Newell Building (former)|601610|access-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

==Governance==
[[File:Australia, Queensland, Cairns, The Lagoon.jpg|thumb|right|''The Lagoon'' on the Cairns Esplanade on the left, separated by the boardwalk from the ocean on the right, at low tide]]

Cairns is part of the [[Cairns Region]] [[local government areas of Queensland|local government area]] which 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 [[Ranked voting systems|preferential voting]] system. Elections are held every four years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Queensland |first=Electoral Commission of |date=2024-03-20 |title=Election events |url=https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/election-events |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=www.ecq.qld.gov.au |language=en |archive-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407085957/https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/elections/election-events |url-status=live }}</ref>

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 was amalgamated in 1995, was the [[Shire of Mulgrave (Queensland)|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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Council |first=Cairns Regional |date=2022-04-01 |title=Council history |url=https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/facts-figures-history/history/council-history |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=Cairns Regional Council |language=en-AU |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502120948/https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/experience-cairns/facts-figures-history/history/council-history |url-status=live }}</ref>

At the time of the 1995 amalgamation, Cairns City had a population of approximately 40,000 and Mulgrave Shire had a population of approximately 60,000. Both local government authorities had chambers in the Cairns [[Central business district|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 at 119–145 Spence Street.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 July 2001 |title=Land Row |work=The Cairns Post |page=1 |agency=News Limited}}</ref>

Cairns has three representatives in the [[Queensland Parliament]], from the electoral districts of [[Electoral district of Barron River|Barron River]], [[Electoral district of Cairns|Cairns]] and [[Electoral district of Mulgrave (Queensland)|Mulgrave]]. The city is represented in the [[Parliament of Australia|Federal Parliament]] by representatives elected from the districts of [[Division of Leichhardt|Leichhardt]] and [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]].

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! colspan=3|[[Cairns Region|Cairns Regional Council]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/your-council/mayor-and-councillors/division-6 |title=Division 6: Kristy Vallely |date=27 April 2023 |access-date=2 May 2024 |archive-date=2 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502120949/https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/your-council/mayor-and-councillors/division-6 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center"|'''Division''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Councillor''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Councillor'''
|-
| [[List of mayors of Cairns|Mayor]] || Amy Eden || Team Eden
|-
| 1 || Brett Moller || Unity Team
|-
| 2 || Matthew Tickner || Independent LNP
|-
| 3 || Cathy Zeiger || 
|-
| 4 || Trevor Tim || Team Eden
|-
| 5 || Rob Pyne || Independent Socialist
|-
| 6 || Kristy Vallely || Unity Team
|-
| 7 || Anna Middleton ||
|-
| 8 || Rhonda Coghlan || Unity Team
|-
| 9 || Brett Olds || Independent One Nation

|}

{{col-break}}

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! colspan=4|[[Government of Queensland|Queensland]]<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/results/electorates/ 2015 Queensland State Election Results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150225011053/http://www.abc.net.au/news/qld-election-2015/results/electorates/ |date=25 February 2015 }}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:center"|'''District''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Member of Parliament''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Party''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Term'''
|-
| [[Electoral district of Barron River|Barron River]] || [[Bree James]] || [[Liberal National Party of Queensland]] || 2024–
|-
| [[Electoral district of Cairns|Cairns]] || [[Michael Healy (politician)|Michael Healy]] || [[Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)|Labor]] || 2017–
|-
| [[Electoral district of Mulgrave (Queensland)|Mulgrave]] || [[Terry James]] || [[Liberal National Party of Queensland]] || 2024–
|}

{{col-break}}

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb76b;"
! colspan=4|[[Government of Australia|Australia]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|'''Division''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Member of Parliament''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Party''' || style="text-align:center"|'''Term'''
|-
| [[Division of Kennedy|Kennedy]] || [[Bob Katter]] || [[Katter's Australian Party|Katter's Australian]] || 1993–
|-
| [[Division of Leichhardt|Leichhardt]] || [[Matt Smith]] || [[Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)|Labor]] || 2025–
|}

{{col-end}}

==Economy==
[[File:Cairns night.JPG|thumb|right|Cairns at night; the wharves. The casino's dome can be seen in the background.]]
[[File:Cairns Esplanade - Pier (Shangrila Hotel).jpg|thumb|right|Cairns Pier]]

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===
Tourism plays a major part in the Cairns [[Economic system|economy]]. According to [[Tourism Australia]], the Cairns region is the fourth-most-popular destination for international tourists in Australia after Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Market Tourism Facts |url=http://www.tourismaustralia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/TopTen_Regions_Dec2006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20080307161815/http://www.tourismaustralia.com/content/Research/Factsheets/TopTen_Regions_Dec2006.pdf |archive-date=7 March 2008 |publisher=Tourism Australia}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Research & Stats |url=http://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp?lang=EN&sub=0361 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014171037/http://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp?lang=EN&sub=0361 |archive-date=14 October 2006 |publisher=Tourism Australia}}</ref> There 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese groups head for Cairns |url=http://www.ttgmice.com/article/chinese-groups-head-for-cairns/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605123025/http://www.ttgmice.com/article/chinese-groups-head-for-cairns/ |archive-date=5 June 2013 |access-date=4 March 2013 |publisher=TTGmice}}</ref>

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 is also considered as the gateway to Great Barrier Reef.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Cairns [[esplanade]] includes a swimming lagoon with adjoining barbecue areas. Cairns Esplanade Lagoon opened in March 2003.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Cairns Esplanade Lagoon remains a tourist magnet in Far North Queensland city, 20 years after it was built |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-29/cairns-esplanade-lagoon-20-year-anniversary-tourist-attraction/102159016 |access-date=30 March 2023 |newspaper=ABC News |date=29 March 2023 |archive-date=29 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329204313/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-29/cairns-esplanade-lagoon-20-year-anniversary-tourist-attraction/102159016 |url-status=live }}</ref> 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 (mayor)|Kevin Byrne]] declared that [[Toplessness|topless]] sunbathing is permitted here.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 May 2003 |title=Backpacker Boobs Cause Stir |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/23/1053585684244.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506093706/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/23/1053585684244.html |archive-date=6 May 2008 |access-date=29 January 2008 |website=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Esplanade Redevelopment Progress – Topless Sunbathing |url=http://www.cairnsesplanade.com/redevelopment.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028103458/http://www.cairnsesplanade.com/redevelopment.html |archive-date=28 October 2007}}</ref> 

===Commercial===
Several shopping centres of various sizes are located throughout Cairns. The largest of these are [[Cairns Central]] shopping centre, located in 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 [[Direct Factory Outlets|DFO]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Direct Factory Outlets |url=http://www.dfo.com.au/cairns/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081101005345/http://www.dfo.com.au/cairns/ |archive-date=1 November 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=3 December 2008 |title=Direct Benefit |work=The Cairns Post |agency=News Limited |url=http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/12/03/18345_print-version.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024043732/http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2008/12/03/18345_print-version.html |archive-date=24 October 2009}}</ref> 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 Queensland Government opened the second stage of William McCormack Place, an A$80&nbsp;million office building credited as the first 6-star [[Green Star (Australia)|green star-rated]] building in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=William McCormack Place, Stage Two, Cairns |url=http://www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/zone_files/Office_of_Clean_Energy/william_mccormack.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406002813/http://www.cleanenergy.qld.gov.au/zone_files/Office_of_Clean_Energy/william_mccormack.pdf |archive-date=6 April 2011 |access-date=13 April 2011 |website=Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation |publisher=Queensland Government}}</ref>

===Media===
[[File:Cairns Post - Premises 2016 (2).jpg|thumb|Premises of ''The Cairns Post'' on Abbott Street (2016)]]
''[[The Cairns Post]]'', published by [[Rupert Murdoch]]'s [[News Corp Australia|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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Cairns is served by five television stations, three commercial television stations ([[WIN Television]], [[STQ|Seven Queensland]] and [[Network 10]]) which are regional affiliates of the [[Television broadcasting in Australia|three Australian commercial television]] networks ([[Network 10|10]], [[Seven Network|Seven]] and [[Nine Network|Nine]]), and public broadcasters the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] and [[Special Broadcasting Service|SBS]] services.<ref>[http://www.digitalready.gov.au/media/DigitalTVTimetable_by_Region.pdf Regional digital TV timetable] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216193549/http://www.digitalready.gov.au/media/DigitalTVTimetable_by_Region.pdf|date=16 December 2010}}, Australian Government</ref>

Of the three major commercial networks:
*[[Seven News]] produces a half-hour local news bulletin for Cairns and [[ Far North Queensland]], airing each weeknight at 6pm. It is produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in [[Maroochydore]].
*[[WIN News]] airs a half-hour statewide news bulletin for [[Regional Queensland]], airing each weeknight at 5:30pm. Select local stories from Cairns is inserted into this bulletin, although local weather remains intact at the end of the bulletin as an opt-out window. It is produced from a newsroom in the city and broadcast from studios in [[Wollongong]]. A dedicated local WIN News bulletin for Cairns was broadcast until 30th June 2021.
*[[Network 10]] airs short regional ''[[10 News]]'' updates throughout the day, broadcast from studios in [[Hobart]].

Cairns radio stations include a number of public, commercial and community broadcasters. The ABC broadcasts [[ABC Far North]], [[Radio National|ABC Radio National]], [[ABC NewsRadio]], [[ABC Classic|ABC Classic FM]] and the [[Triple J]] youth network. Commercial radio stations include [[Star 102.7]], 4CA 846 AM, [[Hot FM (Australian radio network)|Hot FM]] (now [[Hit Network]]), [[Sea FM]] (now [[Triple M]]) and 104.3 [[RadioTAB|4TAB]] sports radio, while 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).{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

=== Industry and agriculture ===
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 ({{coord|-17.0929|145.7889|type:landmark_region:AU-QLD|name=Mulgrave Sugar Mill}}).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Msf Sugar |url=http://www.msfsugar.com.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120222436/http://www.msfsugar.com.au/ |archive-date=2015-11-20 |access-date=2015-10-27 |website=www.msfsugar.com.au}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mulgrave Mill {{!}} Msf Sugar |url=http://www.msfsugar.com.au/our-mills/mulgrave-mill/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121212201/http://www.msfsugar.com.au/our-mills/mulgrave-mill/ |archive-date=2015-11-21 |access-date=2015-10-27 |website=www.msfsugar.com.au}}</ref>

The [[Barron Gorge Hydroelectric Power Station]] is located nearby on the lower [[Barron River (Queensland)|Barron River]], and provides [[green power]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==Transport==
Cairns is an important transport hub in the Far North Queensland region. Located at the base of Cape York Peninsula, it provides important transport links between the Peninsula and [[Gulf of Carpentaria]] regions, and the areas to the south of the state. [[Cairns International Airport]] is essential to the viability of the area's tourism industry.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Roads===
[[File:forestgardens.png|thumb|right|The [[Bruce Highway]] in Cairns southern suburbs at morning [[peak hour]].]]

The [[Bruce Highway]] runs for {{convert|1700|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from [[Bald Hills, Queensland|Bald Hills]] on the [[City of Brisbane]]'s northern boundary, and terminates in [[Woree, Queensland|Woree]], a southern suburb in Cairns. The [[Captain Cook Highway]] (also referred as the Cook Highway) commences at [[Aeroglen, Queensland|Aeroglen]], a northern suburb of Cairns, and runs for approximately {{convert|76|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} northwest to [[Mossman, Queensland|Mossman]].<ref>{{Queensland Globe|access-date=9 December 2017}}</ref>

A need for future upgrades to the Bruce Highway to motorway standards through the southern suburbs to Gordonvale has been identified in regional planning strategies to cope with increasing congestion from rapid population growth. This will result in overpasses at all major intersections from Woree to Gordonvale. The motorway will divert from Bentley Park to Gordonvale, bypassing Edmonton to reduce the effects of road noise on residential areas.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=February 2000 |author=Far North Queensland Regional Planning Advisory Committee |journal=Far North Queensland Regional Plan |title=FNQ Regional Plan – Supporting Technical Documents – Integrated Transport |pages=41–43 |isbn=0724297480}}</ref>

The [[Kennedy Highway]] commences at Smithfield on the Barron River flood plain north of Cairns, and ascends the Macalister Range to the township of Kuranda. The highway then extends to the town of [[Mareeba]] on the [[Atherton Tableland]], and continues to communities of Cape York Peninsula.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The [[Gillies Highway]] commences at the township of Gordonvale, and ascends the [[Gillies Range]] (part of the Great Dividing Range) to the town of [[Atherton, Queensland|Atherton]] on the Atherton Tableland, passing through the township of [[Yungaburra, Queensland|Yungaburra]] on the way.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The controversial private road, [[Quaid Road]], was constructed in 1989 through what is now a [[Wet Tropics]] [[World Heritage|World Heritage Area]], and links [[Wangetti, Queensland|Wangetti]], on the coast just north of Cairns, to [[Southedge]], just south of [[Mount Molloy, Queensland|Mount Molloy]]. The road is not open to the public and is not used for general traffic.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Bus===
A public bus transit network exists within the city, with two transit hubs located within the [[Central business district|CBD]]: the [[Cairns Central]] Railway Station precinct, and the Cairns City Bus Station located within the Lake street and Shield street area, through which all bus lines operate and provide linkage to taxi, ride share and intercity rail services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2016 |title=Keeping Our CBD Inviting (factsheet) |url=http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/88636/Keeping-our-CBD-inviting.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024100035/http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/88636/Keeping-our-CBD-inviting.pdf |archive-date=24 October 2017 |access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref> The transit network includes most parts of the city, from [[Palm Cove, Queensland|Palm Cove]] in the north, [[Gordonvale, Queensland|Gordonvale]] in the south and [[Redlynch, Queensland|Redlynch]] to the west. It is managed throughout the city by [[Translink (Queensland)|Translink]]: through a service contract with the [[Kinetic Cairns]], however the [[go card]] ticketing system has not been implemented in the region. A smaller [[shuttle bus]] service, ''Jon's Kuranda Bus'' runs between Cairns and Kuranda alongside other private coach services. The main bus hubs in the Cairns CBD are the Cairns City bus station, opened in 2014,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bateman |first=Daniel |date=7 July 2014 |title=Cairns Sunbus drivers don't want to leave temporary Esplanade terminal |work=Cairns Post |publisher=News Corp Australia |url=https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/cairns-sunbus-drivers-dont-want-to-leave-temporary-esplanade-terminal/news-story/1208a7627dbee9b315558435b5b23d72 |access-date=24 October 2020}}</ref> and at [[Cairns Central]], the former servicing almost all bus lines in Cairns.<ref>{{Cite map |last1=Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads |title=Cairns bus network map |url=https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/plan-your-journey/maps/200224-cairns-network-map.pdf |access-date=21 October 2020 |work=TransLink |publisher=Queensland Government |date=24 February 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018181732/https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/plan-your-journey/maps/200224-cairns-network-map.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cairns is served by long-distance coaches to Brisbane, and regional cities to the south. Coaches also operate west to [[Mount Isa]] via [[Townsville]], and to [[Alice Springs]] and [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] in the [[Northern Territory]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===Rail===
[[File:StateLibQld 1 100880.jpg|thumb|right|Railway workers on the Cairns Railway with a view of Glacier Rock in the background, {{c.|1891}}.<ref>The Cairns Range Railway was built to connect the mining centre of Herberton with Cairns. Work began on 10 May 1886; the first sod was turned in Cairns by Samuel Griffith, Premier of Queensland, and the first train arrived in Herberton on 20 October 1910 (Information taken from: A.D. Broughton, A pictorial history of the construction of the Cairns Range Railway, 1886–1891, 1991).</ref>]]

[[Cairns railway station]] is the terminus for Queensland's [[North Coast railway line, Queensland|North Coast railway line]], which follows the eastern seaboard from Brisbane. Services are operated by [[Queensland Rail]] (QR) and include the high-speed [[Diesel Tilt Train]]. Freight trains also operate along the route, with a QR Freight handling facility located at Portsmith.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Pacific National Queensland (a division of [[Pacific National]], owned by [[Asciano Limited]]) operates a rail siding at Woree. It runs private trains on the rail network owned by the Queensland State Government and managed by QR's Network Division.

The [[Kuranda Scenic Railway]] operates from Cairns. The tourist railway ascends the Macalister Range and is not used for commuter services. It passes through the suburbs of Stratford, Freshwater (stopping at Freshwater Station) and Redlynch before reaching Kuranda.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Freight services to [[Forsayth, Queensland|Forsayth]] were discontinued in the mid-1990s. These were mixed freight and passenger services that served the semi-remote towns west of the Great Dividing Range. There is now a weekly passenger-only service, ''The [[Savannahlander]]'', that leaves Cairns on Wednesday mornings. The Savannahlander is run by a private company, Cairns Kuranda Steam Trains.

Cairns is served by a [[narrow-gauge railway|narrow-gauge]] cane railway (or cane train) network that hauls harvested sugar cane to the [[Mulgrave Sugar Mill]] located in Gordonvale. The pressure of urban sprawl on land previously cultivated by cane farmers has seen this network reduced over recent years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Transport Network: Concept Design Report |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Projects/C/Cairns-Transit-Network/Alignment-Plans/Concept-Design-Report/chapter05_land_use_planning_and_urban_design.pdf?la=en |access-date=17 March 2020 |website=Department of Transport & Main Roads |publisher=[[Queensland Government]] |page=5.42 |archive-date=16 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160516124645/http://tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Projects/C/Cairns-Transit-Network/Alignment-Plans/Concept-Design-Report/chapter05_land_use_planning_and_urban_design.pdf?la=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Airport===
[[File:Cairns Airport.JPG|right|thumb|[[Cairns International Airport]]]]

[[Cairns International Airport]] is {{convert|7|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} north of Cairns City between the CBD and the Northern Beaches. The domestic terminal at Cairns Airport underwent an extensive redevelopment which began in 2007 and was completed in 2010. In 2023, a new renovation began on the international terminal, which was expected to cost between [[A$]]40 and 50 million.{{citation needed|date=June 2024}}

The airport has a domestic terminal, an international terminal, and a general aviation area. The airport handles international flights, and flights to major Australian cities, tourist destinations, and regional destinations throughout North Queensland. It is an important base for general aviation serving the Cape York Peninsula and Gulf of Carpentaria communities. The Cairns airport is also a base for the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]].

===Port===
[[File:Cairns-marina.JPG|thumb|Cairns Marina]]
The Cairns Seaport, located on Trinity Inlet, is operated by the Cairns Port Authority.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Port Authority |url=http://www.cairnsport.com.au/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050701074245/http://www.cairnsport.com.au/ |archive-date=1 July 2005}}</ref>
It serves as an important port for tourist operators providing daily reef trips. These consist of large [[catamarans]] capable of carrying over 300 passengers, as well as smaller operators that may take as few as 12 tourists. Cairns Port is also a port of call for [[cruise ships]], such as Captain Cook Cruises, cruising the South Pacific Ocean. It also provides freight services to coastal townships on Cape York Peninsula, the [[Torres Strait]] and the Gulf of Carpentaria.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Yearly cargo through the port totals 1.13&nbsp;million tonnes. Almost 90% of the trade is bulk cargoes<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |title=Cairns Port Authority 2005/6 Annual Report |url=http://www.cairnsport.com.au/content/standard.asp?name=MC_Annual_Reports |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230103839/http://www.cairnsport.com.au/content/standard.asp?name=MC_Annual_Reports |archive-date=30 December 2012}}</ref> – including petroleum, sugar, molasses, fertiliser and LP gas. A large number of [[Commercial trawler|fishing trawlers]] are also located at the port. There is also a marina that houses private yachts and boats used for tourist operations.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Trinity Wharf has recently been the subject of a major redevelopment to improve the area for tourist and cruise ship operations. The freight wharves are located to the south of Trinity Wharf further up Trinity Inlet.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== Defence facilities ==
The [[Royal Australian Navy]] has a base in Cairns ({{HMAS|Cairns|naval base|6}}).<ref name="RANCairns">{{Cite web |title=HMAS Cairns |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/HMAS_Cairns |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915223433/http://www.navy.gov.au/w/index.php/HMAS_Cairns |archive-date=15 September 2008 |access-date=21 August 2008 |publisher=Royal Australian Navy}}</ref> The base has a complement of 1000 personnel,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bergmann |first=Kym |date=2022-10-27 |title=Strategic importance of Cairns set to grow |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/strategic-importance-of-cairns-set-to-grow/news-story/8791d88f5eac383bf19b801aa76c0255 |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410001046/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/special-reports/strategic-importance-of-cairns-set-to-grow/news-story/8791d88f5eac383bf19b801aa76c0255 |url-status=live }}</ref> and supports nine vessels, including:
*Three {{sclass|Armidale|patrol boat|2}}s of ''Ardent'' Division
*Two {{sclass|Cape|patrol boat|2}}s

Four ships of the [[Royal Australian Navy Hydrographic Service]]:
*Two {{sclass|Leeuwin|survey vessel|0}} hydrographic ships
*Two {{sclass|Paluma|motor launch|0}} survey ships

Previously four of the six {{sclass|Balikpapan|landing craft heavy|0}} landing craft were based in Cairns before their decommissioning.<ref name="RANCairns" />

[[Porton Barracks]], in the outlying suburb of [[Edmonton, Queensland|Edmonton]], is home to the [[Australian Army]]'s [[51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment]]. Delta Company from the [[Townsville]]-based [[31st/42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment]] is also based here. Both units are components of the [[Australian Army Reserve]].

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|Papua New Guinea}} [[Lae]], Papua New Guinea ([[Morobe Province]]) since 1984
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Minami, Tokushima|Minami]], Japan ([[Tokushima Prefecture]]) since 1969
* {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Oyama, Tochigi|Oyama]], Japan ([[Tochigi Prefecture]]) since 15 June 2006
* {{flagicon|Latvia}} [[Riga]], Latvia since 1990
* {{flagicon|United States}} [[Scottsdale, Arizona|Scottsdale]], USA ([[Arizona]]) since 1987
* {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Sidney, British Columbia|Sidney]], Canada ([[British Columbia]]) since 1984
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Zhanjiang]], People's Republic of China ([[Guangdong|Guangdong province]]) since 2005

A selection of memorabilia and artifacts relating to Cairns Sister Cities is displayed at Cairns City Library.<ref>[http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/region/sister-cities Sister cities – Cairns Regional Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220070333/http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/region/sister-cities |date=20 February 2015 }}. Cairns.qld.gov.au. Retrieved on 16 July 2013.</ref>

==Education==
{{Main|List of schools in Far North Queensland}}

Cairns has numerous primary and secondary schools. Separate systems of [[public and private education in Australia|public and private schools]] operate in Queensland.

The biggest high schools in Cairns are [[Cairns State High School]] located in [[Cairns North]] with 1,665 pupils{{When|date=August 2025}} and [[Trinity Bay State High School]] located in [[Manunda, Queensland|Manunda]] with around 1900+ students.{{When|date=August 2025}}
<!-- So, where are the government schools? -->

[[Catholic]] schools are operated by Catholic Education Cairns. The Catholic system encompasses nineteen primary schools, six secondary colleges and one P–12 college.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Education Services Cairns |url=http://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/index.php/our-schools/school-information/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419014332/http://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/index.php/our-schools/school-information/ |archive-date=19 April 2014}}</ref> The oldest [[Marist Brothers]] college in Cairns is St Augustine's, which is a secondary college.<ref>{{cite web | title=St Augustine's Cairns | website=St Augustine's College | url=https://www.sac.qld.edu.au/ | access-date=16 May 2022 | archive-date=17 November 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117023645/http://www.sac.qld.edu.au/ | url-status=live }}</ref> {{as of|2014}} there were almost 6,700 primary students and 4,000 secondary students enrolled in the Roman Catholic school system.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholic Education in the Cairns Diocese |url=http://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/index.php/about/catholic-education-in-the-cairns-diocese/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517223659/http://www.cns.catholic.edu.au/index.php/about/catholic-education-in-the-cairns-diocese |archive-date=17 May 2014}}</ref>

There are also four other independent schools – [[Peace Lutheran College]], [[Trinity Anglican School]], Freshwater Christian College and [[Redlynch State College]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

There is also [[Hinterland Cairns Steiner School]], which is independent.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The [[James Cook University (Cairns campus)|Cairns Campus]] of [[James Cook University]] is located at Smithfield. [[Central Queensland University|CQUniversity Australia]] has established a study centre in Cairns.<ref>[http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/04/23/215915_local-news.html A hub of higher learning for Cairns] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808050415/http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2012/04/23/215915_local-news.html |date=8 August 2012 }}</ref> The city also hosts a [[TAFE]] college, and a [[School of the Air]] base, both located in the inner suburb of Manunda.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==Health==
[[File:Cairns Base Hospital.jpg|thumb|right|The Cairns Hospital from the air facing south.]]

The [[Cairns Hospital]] is situated on the Cairns Esplanade and is the major hospital for the Cape York Peninsula area. The smaller Cairns Private Hospital is located nearby. A new building was completed in 2015 to provide up to 168 more beds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns Hospital redevelopment - home page |url=http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cbhredevelopment |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128081744/http://www.health.qld.gov.au/cbhredevelopment/ |archive-date=28 January 2014 |access-date=23 January 2014}}</ref>

Cairns is a base for the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]], which operates clinics and provides [[MEDEVAC|emergency evacuations]] in remote communities throughout the region.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==Sport and recreation==

=== Rugby League ===

Rugby League is the most popular sport in Cairns. The [[Northern Pride RLFC|Northern Pride]] [[Queensland Cup]] rugby league team played their first season in 2008, and act as a feeder team to the [[North Queensland Cowboys]] who play in the [[National Rugby League]]. Cairns is represented by 11 Senior clubs, most notably ''Brothers Cairns'', ''Ivanhoes Knights,'' ''Cairns Kangaroos, Edmonton Storm'' and ''Southern Suburbs Cockatoos'' in the Cairns District Rugby League. Cairns also hosts growing bases for [[Rugby union]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

=== Other sports ===

Cairns has a seven-team Australian rules football competition, [[AFL Cairns]], between teams from the Cairns and Port Douglas region. [[Cazalys Stadium]] currently hosts one [[Australian Football League]] (AFL) game each season. There is also an [[AFL Masters]] team that is based in Cairns, known as the Cairns Stingers.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

[[File:Cazaly's Stadium.jpg|thumb|Cazaly's Stadium]]

Cairns was home to [[Cairns FC|Far North Queensland Heat]], who played in the 2nd tier of [[association football|soccer]] in Australia until their dissolution in 2018. The team has represented the city nationally previously at the [[2014 FFA Cup]]. The team competes at [[Barlow Park]]. The Cairns region has a large [[association football|soccer]] community with a local competition which spans from [[Port Douglas, Queensland|Port Douglas]] to [[Innisfail, Queensland|Innisfail]] and west to [[Dimbulah, Queensland|Dimbulah]].
Notable [[association football|soccer]] players from the region include [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroos]] [[Frank Farina]], [[Steve Corica]], [[Shane Stefanutto]] and [[Michael Thwaite]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

There is a baseball league at [[Trinity Beach]].<ref>[http://www.cairnsbaseballleague.com/home.html Cairns Baseball League] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825225148/http://cairnsbaseballleague.com/home.html|date=25 August 2013}}. Cairns Baseball League (23 July 2012). Retrieved on 16 July 2013.</ref> Cairns also has a [[National Basketball League (Australasia)|National Basketball League]] ([[National Basketball League (Australasia)|NBL]]) team, the [[Cairns Taipans]] whose home court is the [[Cairns Convention Centre]], known as ''The Snakepit'' during Taipans home games.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

In 1965 the [[City of Cairns Open]], a professional golf tournament, was inaugurated. Significant golfers like [[Randall Vines]] and [[Vic Bennetts]] won the event. In the mid-1970s it evolved into an amateur event. In modern times, the week-long event encompasses four tournaments, including a mixed team event and separate men's and women's tournaments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City of Cairns Amateur Golf Week - Cairns Golf Club |url=https://www.cairnsgolfclub.com.au/10-golf/2-city-of-cairns-amateur-golf-week |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=www.cairnsgolfclub.com.au |archive-date=15 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220715032347/https://www.cairnsgolfclub.com.au/10-golf/2-city-of-cairns-amateur-golf-week |url-status=live }}</ref>

Cairns is a major international destination for [[water sports]] and [[scuba diving]] due to its close proximity to the [[Great Barrier Reef]]. Other recreational activities popular with tourists include [[whitewater rafting]], [[skydiving]], [[hang gliding]], [[kitesurfing]] and [[snorkelling]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

=== Sporting facilities ===
[[File:CAIRNS MUSEUM.jpg|thumb|Cairns Museum]]

Notable sporting grounds include [[Barlow Park]], Parramatta Park, [[Cazalys Stadium]], the Cairns Convention Centre, and the Cairns [[Field hockey|Hockey]] Centre. The Cairns Showground is used for sports, in addition to the Cairns Show and funfairs.<ref>[http://www.cairnsshow.com.au/events/the-cairns-show.html Cairns Show Events] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707062329/http://www.cairnsshow.com.au/events/the-cairns-show.html|date=7 July 2009}}</ref>

==Amenities==
Established in 1978, the Cairns & District Chinese Association is an arts and heritage organisation seeking to preserve the Chinese culture and heritage of Cairns and North Queensland and enriching the contemporary cultural, social and economic diversity of the community. The society organises events such as the [[Chinese New Year Festival]], organises [[Lion dance]]rs and [[dragon boat]] racing, maintains the Lit Sung Goong Temple, and offers Chinese language classes and social group activities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc |url=http://www.cadcai.org/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921232727/http://cadcai.org/ |archive-date=21 September 2017 |access-date=12 April 2018}}</ref>

Established in 1989, the Cairns and District Family History Society maintains a library of world-wide [[genealogy]] material at 271 Gatton Street, [[Westcourt, Queensland|Westcourt]]. The society publishes new genealogical resources based on collecting and indexing family information relating to Far North Queensland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us |url=https://cdfhs.org/about-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612083126/http://cdfhs.org/about-us/ |archive-date=12 June 2017 |access-date=12 April 2018 |publisher=Cairns and District Family History Society Inc}}</ref>

The Cairns Historical Society operates the Cairns Museum and Cairns Historical Society Resource Centre at the former [[Cairns School of Arts]] building on the corner of Lake and Shields Streets in [[Cairns City, Queensland|Cairns City]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.cairnsmuseum.org.au/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314175643/http://www.cairnsmuseum.org.au/about-us |archive-date=14 March 2018 |access-date=12 April 2018 |publisher=Cairns Historical Society}}</ref>

The Cairns branch of the [[Queensland Country Women's Association]] meets at 264 Grafton Street, [[Cairns North, Queensland|Cairns North]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Branch Locations |url=http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226010724/http://www.qcwa.org.au/branch-locations/ |archive-date=26 December 2018 |access-date=26 December 2018 |publisher=[[Queensland Country Women's Association]]}}</ref>

St Monica's Catholic Cathedral is at 183 Abbott Street. It is within the Cairns Cathedral Parish of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Cairns Cathedral Parish |url=http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/cairnscathedral.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118115123/http://www.cairns.catholic.org.au/parishes/cairnscathedral.html |archive-date=18 November 2020 |access-date=18 November 2020 |website=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns]]}}</ref>

== Indigenous languages and representation==
The [[Yidiny language]] is a prominent language of the Cairns area.<ref name=langmap/>

[[Irukandji language]] (also known as Yirrgay, Yurrgay, Yirrgandji, Djabuganjdji and Yirgay) is a language of [[Far North Queensland]], particularly the area around the [[Macalister Range, Queensland|Kuranda Range]] and [[Barron River (Queensland)|Lower Barron River]]. The Irukandji language region includes the landscape within [[Cairns Regional Council]].<ref name=langmap>{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/70|title=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|author=|date=|website=State Library of Queensland|access-date=30 January 2020}}</ref>

[[Yumplatok]]  (also known as Torres Strait Creole and Broken) is a contemporary [[Torres Strait Island languages|Torres Strait Island language]] originating in the [[Torres Strait]]. The contact with missionaries and others since the 1800s has led to the development of a [[pidgin language]], which transitioned into a [[creole language]] and now has its own distinctive sound system, grammar, vocabulary, usage and meaning. Torres Strait Creole is spoken by most Torres Strait Islanders and is a mixture of [[Standard Australian English]] and traditional languages. It is an English-based creole; however, each island has its own version of creole. Torres Strait Creole is also spoken on the [[Australian mainland]], including [[Northern Peninsula Area Region]] and coastal communities such as Cairns, [[Townsville]], [[Mackay, Queensland|Mackay]], [[Rockhampton]] and [[Brisbane]].<ref name=langmap/>

There are four [[traditional owner]] groups representing the rights and interests of the peoples of the Cairns region. The Dawul Wuru (Yirrganydji) Aboriginal Corporation represents traditional owners in the area between Cairns and Port Douglas. Native title rights have been granted to the [[Djabugay people]] over land and waters within the [[Barron Gorge National Park]] near Kuranda. The [[Gunggandji]] people hold rights over more than {{cvt|7,500|ha}} on the [[Yarrabah, Queensland|Yarrabah Peninsula]]. The fourth group represents the Yidinji clans, and comprises Gimuy Walubara Yidinji, Dulabed Malanbarra and Yidinji, Mandingalbay Yidinji and Wadjanbarra Tableland Yidinji.<ref>{{cite web | title=Local Traditional Owners From The Cairns Region, Far North Queensland | website=Wet Tropics Plan | date=10 November 2018 | url=https://www.wettropicsplan.org.au/my-backyard/cairns-region/local-cultural-connections/ | access-date=5 July 2021 | archive-date=9 July 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184218/https://www.wettropicsplan.org.au/my-backyard/cairns-region/local-cultural-connections/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==

<!-- Please only list notable people which have a Wikipedia article, or when a reference can be provided to prove notability. Please sort in alphabetical order, by family name. -->
* [[Gavin Allen]], Queensland and Brisbane Broncos Rugby League player
* [[Christine Anu]], [[pop singer]] and actress<ref>{{Cite web |title=Christine Anu – Biography |url=http://www.biggeststars.com/c/christine-anu-biography.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707045934/http://www.biggeststars.com/c/christine-anu-biography.html |archive-date=7 July 2009 |access-date=14 December 2009 |website=BiggestStars.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |title=Christine Anu |series=Who Do You Think You Are? |series-link=Who Do You Think You Are? (Australian TV series) |network=[[Special Broadcasting Service]] |station=[[SBS One]] |season=2 |number=4 |minutes=3:55 |airdate=18 October 2009}}</ref>
* [[Aron Baynes]], basketball player in the [[National Basketball Association|NBA]]
* [[Poppy Boltz]], AFLW footballer<ref>[https://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/afl-cairns-rise-of-poppy-boltz/news-story/e0055e81b97ba3679cba911e76f2638b AFL Cairns: Rise of Poppy Boltz] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512072459/https://login.newscorpaustralia.com/authorize?client_id=KZfrePEaE0xQQCkDYsSxV4eUjPrS5OLH&response_type=token%20id_token&scope=openid%20profile&audience=newscorpaustralia&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cairnspost.com.au%2Fremote%2Fidentity%2Fauth%2Flatest%2Flogin%2Fcallback.html&state=U6nlqiLlkk1cQ.~H-U8g3nlFdDYRmro_&nonce=xElFlnyQP2h9LmFRN8Tjzat4dv0Rurjf&response_mode=web_message&prompt=none&auth0Client=eyJuYW1lIjoiYXV0aDAuanMiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjoiOS4yNC4xIn0%3D |date=12 May 2024 }} from Cairns Post 1 December 2023</ref>
* [[Matt Bowen]], Rugby League player
* [[Jack Bowes]], AFL footballer<ref>[https://www.cairnspost.com.au/news/cairns/from-cairns-to-geelong-how-jack-bowes-kicked-his-career-goals-to-be-signed-up-by-the-2022-premiers/news-story/a3c3fe77523e47b0f531f8a51f5cc1c5 Former Cairns player’s latest career goal kicked in Geelong] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512072447/https://login.newscorpaustralia.com/authorize?client_id=KZfrePEaE0xQQCkDYsSxV4eUjPrS5OLH&response_type=token%20id_token&scope=openid%20profile&audience=newscorpaustralia&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cairnspost.com.au%2Fremote%2Fidentity%2Fauth%2Flatest%2Flogin%2Fcallback.html&state=8oq4i9Y6skviETVdUxPrB_Y0PJaS2Vgr&nonce=epFO7YrxZ20lb4hOCfwBXAY4grZckVzO&response_mode=web_message&prompt=none&auth0Client=eyJuYW1lIjoiYXV0aDAuanMiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjoiOS4yNC4xIn0%3D |date=12 May 2024 }} from Cairns Post 13 October 2022</ref>
* [[Daniel Boyd (artist)|Daniel Boyd]], contemporary artist
* [[Leonard John Brass]], botanist
* [[Mark Cantoni|Mark "Yank" Cantoni]], rugby league player
* [[Kev Carmody]], singer-songwriter, born in Cairns
* [[Clinton Cave]], singer-songwriter in [[Chase Atlantic]]
* [[Mitchel Cave]], singer-songwriter in [[Chase Atlantic]]
* [[Che Cockatoo-Collins]], AFL footballer
* [[Troy Clarke (Australian rules footballer)|Troy Clarke]], AFL footballer
* [[Terence Cooper]], film actor, artist
* [[Alex Davies (footballer)|Alex Davies]], AFL footballer
* [[Courtenay Dempsey]], AFL footballer, [[Essendon Football Club]]
* [[Charlie Dixon (Australian footballer)|Charlie Dixon]], AFL footballer, [[Port Adelaide Football Club]]
* [[Jacqui Dupuy]], AFLW footballer and netballer<ref>[https://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/dupuys-dualsports-skills-shine-as-rays-captain-stars-for-suns/news-story/f223a1990723ca9221bb48f82bec9fb1 Dupuy’s dual-sports skills shine as Rays captain stars for Suns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512072435/https://login.newscorpaustralia.com/authorize?client_id=KZfrePEaE0xQQCkDYsSxV4eUjPrS5OLH&response_type=token%20id_token&scope=openid%20profile&audience=newscorpaustralia&redirect_uri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cairnspost.com.au%2Fremote%2Fidentity%2Fauth%2Flatest%2Flogin%2Fcallback.html&state=oTb570kTh7tt6l9LtIw3Sl6UIbfpM84M&nonce=O5IAEvVr_iuTz.fbqMqlUBrsHviDNq3u&response_mode=web_message&prompt=none&auth0Client=eyJuYW1lIjoiYXV0aDAuanMiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjoiOS4yNC4xIn0%3D |date=12 May 2024 }} from Cairns Post 26 June 2019</ref>
* [[Mary Fowler (soccer)|Mary Fowler]], soccer player for [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=From Trinity Beach to the world stage: the rise of teen Matildas sensation Mary Fowler |url=https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2021/august/2/from-trinity-beach-to-the-world-stage-the-rise-of-teen-matildas-sensation-mary-fowler |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=www.tropicnow.com.au |archive-date=21 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621053848/https://www.tropicnow.com.au/2021/august/2/from-trinity-beach-to-the-world-stage-the-rise-of-teen-matildas-sensation-mary-fowler |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Virginia Giuffre]], [[American Australians|American-Australian]] advocate for victims of [[sex trafficking]], best known for her testimony against [[Jeffrey Epstein]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Foster |first=Ally |date=26 November 2019 |title=Woman at the centre of Prince Andrew interview furore lives low-key life in Cairns |url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/the-woman-at-the-centre-of-the-prince-andrew-royal-interview-furore-lives-lowkey-life-in-cairns/news-story/76078d380837c4f44d8d6260c5a46d48 |access-date=25 January 2020 |website=[[News.com.au]]}}</ref>
* [[Caleb Graham]], AFL footballer
* [[Catriona Gray]], [[Miss Universe 2018|Miss Universe]] winner
* [[Ben Halloran]], footballer for [[Adelaide United]]
* [[Ken Ham]], [[creationist]] and religious activist
* [[Tracey Hannah]], downhill mountain biker
* [[Jarrod Harbrow]], AFL footballer, [[Gold Coast Football Club]]
* [[Xavier Herbert]], writer<ref name="ANU">{{Cite book |last=McDougall |first=Russell |title=Biography – Albert Francis Xavier Herbert |chapter=Albert Francis Xavier Herbert (1901–1984) |chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/herbert-albert-francis-xavier-12623 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511112359/http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/herbert-albert-francis-xavier-12623 |archive-date=11 May 2013 |access-date=10 February 2012 |publisher=Australian National University}}</ref>
* [[Jacob Heron]], AFL footballer
* [[Justin Hodges]], international Rugby League player
* [[Erin Holland]], an Australian singer and Television Host
* [[Nathan Jawai]], professional basketball player, first indigenous Australian to play in NBA
* [[Danilo Jovanovitch]], poet
* [[Leah Kaslar]], AFLW footballer
* [[Susan Kiefel]], Chief Justice, [[High Court of Australia]]
* [[Richard Ash Kingsford]], Mayor of Brisbane, first Mayor of Cairns
* [[Emma Louise]], musician
* [[Isabel Lucas]], actress
* [[Rayleen Lynch]], retired Australian basketball player
* [[Steven Marshall (whistleblower)|Steven Marshall]], watch house officer and whistleblower
* [[Rhyse Martin]], Rugby League player, [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]]
* Iyah May, singer-songwriter notable for the song "[[Karmageddon (song)|Karmageddon]]"<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Ryan |title=Who Is Iyah May? Singer Loses Contract Over 'Karmageddon' Song |url=https://www.newsweek.com/iyah-may-karmageddon-song-covid-lyrics-video-2008021|date=31 December 2024 |work=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=24 February 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sinha |first=Bias |date=2 January 2025 |title=Who is Iyah May? Karmaggedon Lyrics Controversy Explored as Singer Loses Contract Over Refusal to Make Any Changes |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/music/news-who-iyah-may-karmaggedon-lyrics-controversy-explored-singer-loses-contract-refusal-make-changes |website=[[Sportskeeda]] |location=[[Bangalore]] |publisher=[[Nazara Technologies]] |access-date=24 February 2025}}</ref>
* [[Ryan McGoldrick]], Rugby League player, [[Castleford Tigers]]
* [[Grant McLennan]], musician, [[The Go-Betweens]]
* [[Nate Myles]], international Rugby League player
* [[Johnny Nicol]], musician
* [[DMo (artist)|Danielle Oke]], artist
* [[Grant Patterson]], Paralympic swimmer
* [[Wilma Reading]], singer<ref name="womensweekly">{{Cite news |last=Boys, Larry |date=6 June 1973 |title=Can't help lovin that gal from Cairns |work=The Australian Women's Weekly |url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47224788/4885882 |url-status=live |access-date=14 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506015146/http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47224788/4885882 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |via=National Library of Australia |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
* [[Adam Sarota]], international football player
* [[Xavier Savage]], Rugby League player
* [[Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow]], Rugby League player
* [[Michael Thwaite]], footballer for [[Liaoning Whowin F.C.|Liaoning Whowin]], and occasional [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]]
* [[Brenton Thwaites]], actor
* [[Rhys Wakefield]], actor
* [[Naomi Wenitong]], member of former pop and R&B duo [[Shakaya]]
* [[Thomas Waddingham]], soccer player for [[Portsmouth F.C|Portsmouth]]
<!-- Please only list notable people which have a Wikipedia article, or when a reference can be provided to prove notability. Please sort in alphabetical order, by family name. -->

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Dawn, the Esplanade, Cairns, QLD.JPG|View of the pier and Esplanade at dawn
File:Esplanade, Cairns, 2015 (02).JPG|City centre
File:Glass bottom boats & Semi sub.JPG|Glass bottom boats and a Semi submarine at [[Green Island (Queensland)|Green Island]], [[Great Barrier Reef]], outer Cairns
File:Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk.jpg|Jack Barnes Bicentennial Mangrove Boardwalk
File:Great Barrier Reef Ferry.JPG|A [[Great Barrier Reef]] ferry, [[Green Island (Queensland)|Green Island]], outer Cairns
File:Kuranda Scenic Railway Cairns.JPG|Kuranda scenic railway, [[Kuranda, Queensland|Kuranda]]
File:Mossman River and Gorge.JPG|Mossman river and Gorge, [[Daintree National Park]], outskirts of Cairns
File:Moved Termite Mounts Mareeba.JPG|Moved termite mounds, [[Mareeba, Queensland]], outskirts of Cairns
File:QLD Rescue Helicopter.JPG|Queensland rescue Helicopter, [[Green Island (Queensland)|Green Island]], [[Great Barrier Reef]], outskirts of Cairns
File:Marine Stingers Sign Cairns.JPG|Marine stingers sign, [[Trinity Beach, Queensland|Trinity beach]], Cairns
File:Hastings Reef.jpg|Hastings Reef
Cairns-copperlode.JPG|City landscape
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Cairns road network]]

{{Portal|Queensland}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
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{{Sister project links |wikt=no |commons=Category:Cairns, Queensland |b=no |n=no |q=no |s=no |v=no |voy=Cairns |d=no |species=no}}
* [http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ Cairns City Council Website]
* [http://queenslandplaces.com.au/cairns University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Cairns]
* [https://www.ilovecairns.com.au/ Cairns Local Information Website]
* [http://www.nfsa.gov.au/blog/2012/08/21/far-north-queensland-time-capsule/ Watch historical footage of Cairns and Far North Queensland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512033111/http://www.nfsa.gov.au/blog/2012/08/21/far-north-queensland-time-capsule/ |date=12 May 2013 }} from the [[National Film and Sound Archive]] of Australia's collection.
* [https://www.australia.com/en/places/cairns-and-surrounds/guide-to-cairns.html Cairns] – Tourism Australia
* {{Cite web |last1=McKenzie |first1=Jane |last2=Coleman |first2=Ros |last3=Wixted |first3=David |year=2011 |title=A Thematic History of the City of Cairns and its Regional Towns |url=http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/40888/CairnsThematic.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424061436/http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/40888/CairnsThematic.pdf |archive-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=[[Cairns City Council]]}}
* Freeman, Jennifer. [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/collinson-index The Collinson Index]. [[State Library of Queensland]] [blog post, 2 September 2011]

{{Clear}}
{{Cairns Region}}
{{Far North Queensland}}
{{Queensland cities}}
{{Cities of Australia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1876 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Cairns, Queensland| ]]
[[Category:Cairns Region]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Australia]]
[[Category:Fishing communities in Australia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1876]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Queensland]]
[[Category:Queensland in World War II]]