Cairns History from shantytown to a modern tourism hub
Cairns is a city located in Far North Queensland, Australia. The area has a history of over 40,000 years, dating back to when the region was home to Aboriginal communities. Here is a brief overview of Cairns’ history:
- Before European settlement, the area that is now the Yidinji people inhabited Cairns. They lived in the rainforest and along the coast and had a rich Culture that included hunting, fishing, and gathering.
- Captain James Cook was the first European to visit the Cairns area; they sailed past in 1770. He named the area Trinity Bay.
- In the late 1800s, gold was discovered in the nearby Hodgkinson River, which led to an influx of people to the area.
- In 1876, Cairns was officially founded as a port for the goldfields. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, the Governor of Queensland at the time.
- The city grew rapidly in the late 1800s and early 1900s, thanks partly to the sugar industry. Many Chinese and Italian immigrants came to Cairns to work on the sugar plantations.
- During World War II, Cairns played an essential role as a base for the Allied forces in the Pacific. The city was a hub for shipping and air transport and was the site of a significant US Navy base.
- In the post-war years, Cairns became an important centre for tourism. The city’s proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest made it a popular destination for visitors worldwide.
Cairns is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage and a strong tourism industry. The city is home to various museums and cultural institutions, which offer a glimpse into the area’s history and cultural diversity.
Cairns first residents
The first recorded human occupants of the Cairns area were Australian Aboriginal peoples.
Archaeological evidence shows Aboriginal peoples have lived in the Cairns rainforest area for at least 5,100 years and probably for the often-said 40,000 years.
Tribal groups speaking the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji language were generally on the south side of the Barron River.
On the northern side, particularly in the coastal area from the Barron to Port Douglas, Yirrganydji groups generally spoke dialects of the Djabugay language.
Captain James Cook
However, in 1770, Captain James Cook discovered the area on his first voyage aboard the HMS Endeavour.
Captain Cook needed all his seamanship skills to navigate the treacherous channels between the Great Barrier Reef and the mainland.
Despite his skill, the tiny 30-metre Endeavor ran aground on the coral reefs. The Crew onboard repaired the boat in a river, later known as the Endeavor. Now, the site of present-day Cooktown.
While Aboriginal inhabitants had lived well in the rainforest and from the sea, immigrants found the land harsh and ungiving.
The dangerous reefs, dense vegetation, debilitating climate and advent of disease took their toll.
Palmer River Gold
It was not until gold fever lured hundreds of thousands of fortune hunters to the region for these reasons.
The area developed after discovering gold at the Palmer River in 1872.
Initial access was via the Barron River.
Cairns was officially founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns following the discovery of gold in the surrounding area.
Industry and Tourism Timeline
Trinity Bay provided a port, and the relatively straightforward, flat land to the north and south of the proposed site allowed for more natural development.
However, Cairns remained a mangrove swamp, uninhabitable by all but the most challenging pioneers.
The building of the railway ensured the future of this vibrant city.
To install a railway line at such a steep incline was an engineering feat.
The railway allowed for the opening of fertile agricultural lands and provided a livelihood for the pioneers after the decline of gold.
While fruit and dairying dominated the high country, sugar cane became the main crop.
In 1903, Cairns was officially declared a town with a registered population 3,500.
In 1909, The Cairns Post newspaper commenced publication, with a publishing schedule of six days per week.
Cairns remained a low-key place until after World War II.
Forty thousand excited locals attended Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Cairns in March 1954, twice the local population at the time.
The opening of the Cairns International Airport in 1984 helped cement the city as a destination for international tourists.
With its rich history and warm tropical climate, tourism plays a significant role in the economy of Cairns.
Cairns is the gateway to exploring Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest.
Tourism has come a long way and is now a 3.5 billion industry.
Next, plan a trip to the Cairns Museum to discover more fascinating information about our spectacular region.
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