Historical Cairns

There’s so much to see and do in Cairns and the city is definitely a shining pearl in a field of precious jewels. We do often forget that – once upon a time – this now-thriving tourist destination was a small settlement consisting of a few farmers and other settlers. These early pioneers helped make Cairns what it is today, so it is definitely worth honouring the city’s past with an exploration of its history.

The first Cairns residents – the Indigenous people – lived within the wet tropics for thousands of years (estimated to be at least 40,000 years) prior to European settlement. Unsurprisingly, this area was one of Australia’s most heavily populated areas and the only area in the country that had permanent inhabitants, as most other Indigenous clans were migratory. With the abundance of natural resources at their fingertips, the Indigenous easily sourced food, medicines, tools, shelter and spiritual meaning from the rainforests and oceans around Cairns. Thankfully, some of this knowledge has survived until today, despite the oppressive aggression and violence the Indigenous people experienced from the first European settlers.

It was Captain James Cook who first set eyes on Cairns as a European. He ran aground in 1770 on the treacherous coral reefs off Cooktown. Coming in to land at the present day Endeavour River (so named by Cook), Cook and his crew named other land features to represent their feelings at the time – Cape Tribulation, Hope Island and Weary Bay. Almost a century later in 1876, Cairns was officially founded and named after the state Governor, Sir William Wellington Cairns, after gold was discovered in the region, and those willing to tolerate the harsh conditions began to move into the area.

For many years, the Cairns population remained very small, as only the toughest of pioneers dared brave the heat and dangerous wildlife that shared their space. When the railway was built in 1886-1887, the population increased and the town began to develop; however, when the gold rush subsided, the settlers needed to find other means for survival. Fishing and pearling industries began to pop up, as did sugarcane, which grew well on the flat coastal lands. This boosted the town’s economy and Cairns again grew larger.

During World War II, the allied forces were stationed throughout the region, serving as a major supply centre for the Pacific Fleet and readying themselves to defend against an invasion from Japan. Thankfully, this did not occur and post war, things settled down and Cairns started to attract interest from tourists, who were slowly becoming aware of the magnificence of the Great Barrier Reef. When the international airport was constructed in 1984, Cairns experienced a tourism boom like never before and this once small, sleepy town became a thriving icon of Australia!

If you’d like to discover the history of Cairns in more detail, there are a number of tour options that can help you do just that. The Cooktown Tour will allow you to experience the beauty of this region as you travel across Daintree River by cable-ferry, then along Bloomfield Track. You’ll experience a true slice of history with lunch at North Queensland’s oldest pub – the Lion’s Den, then you’ll enjoy some free time in Cooktown before returning to Cairns by 4WD or optional flight. Throughout this tour, you’ll learn of the history of the areas you visit

The Daintree Dreaming Aboriginal Day Tour gives you the opportunity to interact with the region’s original owners on a journey of historical Indigenous discovery. You’ll travel north of Port Douglas to Cooya Heads – the Yalangi tribal land. Here, you’ll taste authentic bush tucker, learn about the traditional way of life, be fascinated by the Indigenous knowledge of bush medicine and see artefacts from long ago. You’ll also drop in at Silky Oaks Lodge, Daintree Village and Niau Falls for some gorgeous photo opportunities.

The Tablelands Eco Tour combines history with the love of nature as you are guided by a knowledgeable and passionate tour guide. You’ll enjoy the scenery of the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, see thousand-year-old trees and learn the facts about the fascinating wildlife along the shores of Lake Barrine. You’ll be captivated by the beauty of Millaa Millaa Falls and moved by the legend behind Babinda Boulders. Then, you’ll be taken to Paronella Park – a phenomenal castle in the middle of the forest, where you’ll be awed by the story of its creation.