Free old pictures of Cairns

Old Pictures of Cairns links to a number of remarkable images from Cairns past. These pictures show the vast change that has taken place over the years.

Indeed the city of Cairns, known by the local Aboriginal people as Gimuy, in Far North Queensland, has an interesting past. We have found glimpses of this past. These pictures show the change that has taken place in this tropical Pacific city since the first Europeans arrived.

Old Pictures of Cairns Esplanade

The Cairns Esplanade has a special place in the heart of locals and visitors alike. Cairns history pictures show us how this precinct has evolved during the history of the city. 

• Esplanade in 1893
• Cairns Esplanade – Chinese junks in 1907
• Cairns History Esplanade 1960s
• Esplanade Postcard 1970s
• Cairns History Pictures Postcard 1970s
• Esplanade 2018

Old pictures of Cairns Australia

The streets of Cairns CBD have changed many times over the life of the city. Hence it is interesting to observe this from pictures of the past.

• Policeman in Abbott Street 1890
• Lake Street in the 1930s
• Lake Street in the 1960s
• Cairns – Shields Street 1931
• History Pics – Spence Street 1934
• Cairns Movie Theatre – Abbott and Shields 1910
• Cairns History Abbott Street 1960s

Old pictures of Cairns Queensland

Aerial pictures of Cairns give a unique insight into how the city has changed over many years.

• First plane flight in Cairns 1914
• Cairns Port 1950s
• CBD Arial from the 1960s

Old Cairns

Over the years much of Cairns built heritage has been demolished. Accordingly there has been a loss of everything from old Queenslanders and residential cottages to public buildings. However, Cairns history pics records some of these buildings below.

• Cairns Yacht Club
• Cairns Railway Station – 1950s

Old Cairns Photos

• Cairns City Place in the 1980s
• City Place in 2013
• Cairns Politics in the 1980s
• Cairns Esplanade 2018

Cairns archives

In our research we also managed to access some pictures taken in South Cairns over the years. So these include the Woree Speedway, Edmonton in flood and the Main Street of Gordonvale looking west to the old water tower.

However, the oldest picture we can find in the area is this picture from Wrights Creek of Collinson’s House and the butcher’s cart.

Cairns Museum

Offering a snapshot of our fascinating, beautiful, dynamic frontier region and its people, Cairns Museum’s incredible collection holds the secrets and memories of the people, places, events and changing environment of Far North Queensland. They also have bucket loads of old pictures of Cairns.

Cairns Historical Society

The Cairns Historical Society is a not-for-profit Incorporated Association run and managed by volunteers, with the support of paid staff members.

The Society operates the Cairns Museum, the CHS Research Centre and the History on the Move School Trailer program. It also manages a nationally significant collection of over 85,500 individual items, including many old pictures of Cairns.

The Changing Face of Cairns

Cairns has changed since the pre-colonial time of the traditional owners. These changes are sure to continue, especially in light of the challenges presented by climate change.

As a result, Government will make decisions on where to defend against rising sea levels, and where to retreat (leaving coastal areas to the sea). In light of this, it will be interesting to monitor these impacts on a coastal city like Cairns.

Relevant Content

• Cairns Facts
• Cairns City Council
• Cairns Flooding
• Cairns History
• Cairns Humidity
• Gimuy
• Public Murals

Other Areas

• Central Cairns
• Cairns West
• Mount Whitfield
• North Cairns
• South Cairns

Cairns