Cairns (pop. 68,000), the most northerly town in Queensland, was founded in 1876 as a supply port for the Hodgkinson goldfields and the tin mines in the interior. It has grown rapidly in recent years.
Cairns has a superb location between the Great Barrier Reef and the dark hills of the Atherton Tableland, with numerous beautiful beaches
extending along Trinity Bay to Port Douglas. The lush tropical vegetation, the varied scenery and the relaxed life-style in this tropical climate all contribute to the charm of the town.
Originally called Trinity Bay after the bay in which it lies (discovered by Cook on Trinity Sunday in 1770), it was later renamed Cairns after the then governor of Queensland, William W Cairns.
Transport
The Bruce Highway runs along the coast to end at Cairns (1719km). The railroad line also ends at Cairns. A tarred road, the Captain Cook Highway, continues north to Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree, but beyond this there are only tracks and rivers with no bridges.
Cairns Airport handles regular services from many other Australian towns and also from Tokyo, Bangkok, Singapore, the United States and Europe.
Economy
The economy of Cairns and the surrounding area depends mainly on sugar-cane cultivation, but tourism is now of increasing importance. In recent years, thanks to the international airport, large numbers of visitors have come to Cairns, particularly from Japan.
Events
Mareeba Rodeo (July); Cairns Amateur Horserace Meeting (September); Fun in the Sun, a week-long festival in October.
The oldest parts of this 'capital of the Far North', which in its early days had to compete with Port Douglas 70km further north, are close to the seafront (Barbary Coast, Wharf Street, Esplanade).
Cairns is a town of palm-fringed streets and parks brilliant with tropical flowers. The green Esplanade runs along the bay for 5km. The old town of Cairns round Wharf Street and the Esplanade can be explored with the help of a brochure issued by the National Trust.
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