Cairns, considered the gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef, actually has more interesting stories to tell, given the 150 years of history!

Cairns was officially founded in 1876 and named after the State Governor of the day, Sir William Wellington Cairns. It was formally declared a town in 1903, with a registered population of 3,500. Throughout the 1870s and early 1880s European and Chinese settlers opened up the region to agriculture, creating a large enough population base for the borough of Cairns to be declared a municipality.

The construction of the Cairns to Herberton railway in 1886 provided a boost to the local economy and also sparked a second phase of building and development, replacing the early temporary structures with more substantial timber buildings. The railway is widely regarded as the catalyst for the city's expansion.

The third phase of Cairns' development happened during the WWI and WWII when the city's status as the principal port of Far North Queensland was consolidated and the city centre was rebuilt.

This heritage walk features 24 historic sites and buildings in Cairns' CBD (Central Business District) from different stages of the city's development, all of which have played an important role in the city's almost 150-year history and contributed to the streetscape of Queensland's historic far north city.

There are cafes and pubs along the way. If you like, you can have a meal or a drink, take a break and then continue your walk. The choice is yours!

Pick up this Cairns Audio Guide, itinerary and interactive maps and explore the fascinating historic part of Cairns at your own pace!