Captain James Cook sailed into what he henceforth named, ‘Trinity Inlet’ (Cairns) on 10 June 1770. It wasn’t until over a century later following some exploration of the area that the potential for Trinity Inlet and surrounds was considered. Although William Hann had discovered gold at the Palmer River in 1873, it wasn’t until the discovery of gold at the Hodgkinson River (Atherton Tablelands) in 1876 that the Inlet was investigated as a suitable site for a wharf to facilitate the export of gold.
Cairns was proclaimed a port settlement on 7 October 1876 by the Governor of Queensland William Wellington Cairns. Cairns was made a town on the 28th May 1885 and in 1923 a city. Once the coastal railway opened in 1924 Cairns began to develop.
Whilst it was the discovery minerals which opened up the region to white settlement, pastoral and agricultural settlers of numerous descents soon followed on the back of the initial mineral frenzy.
Unfortunately, the settlement of Cairns reads much like that of other Australian pioneer townships. Europeans, having landed on the north east coast, applied an ‘economic eye’ to landscape that surrounded them and henceforth proceeded to blindly acquire resources, unheeding of the local indigenous hunting, gathering, cultural and spiritual land uses which had a history in the region’s rainforests for at least 15,000 years. Far from being passive observers as their people and land were desecrated, the local Aboriginal persons retaliated, ambushing the white settlers, causing injury and death. The conflict intensified as the local Aboriginals stole domestic stock and other food stores from the white settlers.
By the start of the 1900’s, indigenous persons who survived the violence and disease were sent to missions which were established between Kuranda and Rockhampton. The effect of these missions on indigenous society is well documented and today remains an emotive and contentious subject for many involved in this part of our history.
During World War II, the Cairns region played its part supplying the Allied forces and becoming a training base for mainly American troops. The region was pivotal during the battle for the Coral Sea and despite concerns that the Japanese could invade, most residents chose to stay in the area.
Today much of the rural development of the area reflects the early pattern of agriculture, with the farming of sugarcane on the lowlands and fruit and vegetables on the Tablelands. Cairns was eventually recognized as a city in 1923 and increased its significance as an agricultural centre with the sugar boom of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Although the sugar industry today lacks the vibrancy of those earlier days, the region still prospers thanks to the beauty of the Far North’s terrestrial and marine landscape which was introduced to the world when the international airport opened in 1984. Since the opening, visitors have, and continued to, flood to this vibrant region.
Tourists continue to flock to Cairns. Its status as an international and domestic player in both tourism and business is firmly entrenched. In 2003 Cairns' foreshore was completely revamped. Cairns Port Authority and Cairns City Council created a 'New Cairns' with a multi-million project. With the Pier Marketplace at its heart, the surrounding mudflats were replaced with a glorious swimming lagoon, thick grassy parkland and a boardwalk. The port's marinas were substantially upgraded and the glossy Reef Fleet terminal is now the main departure point for tours to the Reef and islands off Cairns. There's also a five-year plan to upgrade Cairns' airport to an international standard. Groaning under the weight of tourism, Cairns now has the infrastructure to support the industry.
|
