Cairns History - from shanty town to modern metropolis

Cairns is rich in history.

Captain Cook first sailed past here in 1770 naming Trinity Bay (it was Trinity Sunday on the church calendar) and Green Island (not because of the verdant growth but after a crew member).

Various explorers passed the coast but it was not until the 1870's that a town started to take shape. Gold discoveries in the hinterland were followed over the years by tin, wolfram, copper and many other minerals.

Opening of rail lines to the Tableland led to a rich diversity of mainly primary industry developing.

Beef and dairy cattle, maize, peanuts and many other horticultural crops flourished.

Timber, especially hardwoods were exported all over the world.

During the second World War Cairns was a base for military operations. A monument to the famous Catalina Squadrons is located on the Esplanade near the Cairns Hospital.

Sadly now there are very few left but up until the 1980's there were many igloo buildings built by American and Australian Forces in use in Cairns Industrial areas such as Portsmith and Bungalow.

Z Force was headquartered in Mooroobool at The House On The Hill.

The Tanks Art Centre at Edge Hill is a remnant of the huge oil storage facilities required for Allied Navies.

Since then the town has grown to the point where it has one of the busiest international airports in Australia servicing the many local and overseas tourists eagerly comming to visit our world famous attractions.