Cairns Museum — Attraction in Cairns City

The Cairns Museum was great –one of these small local museums that do a very good job at telling their unique story. The top floor was all about the people who have settled and lived in Cairns from 1907 through now, and they told the stories via photos of a person and a vignette about what they did. Good blend of male/female, whites, aboriginal, Europeans and I thought it gave a good flavor of the town. The next floor was displays around themes like dressing, cooking, safety, home life, work, etc.. more photos and the tools that people used with explanations; the home life part was very interesting to see the rather primitive washing machines from the 1950s, the wooden screened cabinets with the four legs set into metal rings, filled with kerosene to keep the ants out. Very evocative section. The docent in the room was very informative and pleasant.

They have a veranda on the second floor as part of the museum and originally when they told me oh, don’t miss the veranda, I thought “yeah, right – it’s a trillion degrees and you want me to sit outside” but when I saw the door I went outside. Well, I was 100% wrong.! There was a pleasant breeze, ceiling fans, white wicker furniture, and a very nice view over Main Street and the trees. I talked to the same docent later on and she explained that the key in Cairns is to get up high so that you get a breeze; and that’s why a lot of the houses (Queenslanders) are raised and have lots of windows to let the breezes come through. Okay, I was convinced. I would definitely recommend this museum if you want to learn about the history...

The Cairns Historical Society makes the history of Far North Queensland accessible for current and future generations.

The Society is a not-for-profit Incorporated Association run and managed by volunteers, with the support of 3 paid staff members. We are led by an elected Management Committee made up of an executive team and the voluntary managers of the Society’s collections.

The Cairns Museum is located in the Cairns School of Arts building on the corner of Lake and Shields Streets, two blocks from Cairns Esplanade and the Cruise Liner terminal.

MUSEUM + HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Cairns Museum has amazing stories to share about living in the tropics.

Stories of heat, sweat and hard work. Of cane, railways, rainforests and reefs. Of White Australia, Aboriginal resistance and European isolation. Tales of tourists, hippies and local celebrations, amidst humidity, cyclones, toads, mould and mozzies.

The Cairns Museum showcases the Cairns Historical Society’s amazing collection of objects, photographs and archival records. This collection holds the secrets and memories of the people, places, events and changing the environment of Cairns and Far...

Came to Palm Cove for three weeks in the wet season and surprise surprise we got 300mm of rain in 24 hours. What do with the family for the day when you have little ones wanting to burn off some energy. Did some googling and thought might go check out Cairns Museum, not sure what it will be like but glad we did. When you first arrive you don't realize what is on offer when you start on the second floor. The further you go through the more you find. Even found out where the term Furphy came from. Much more to this place than I first expected when I walked in. We spent over two hours here. Even sat out on the balcony and kids had fun with coloring competition and arts and crafts supplied while enjoying the balmy weather from under cover while eating some fruit we had brought with us. The staff are passionate as they are volunteers and really engaging. One offersed to get the tiger shark jaws down for a photo which my daughter loved. Then got her in a little sailing boat and rocked it around to simulate the ocean. Definitely worth the extreamly reasonable entrance price. Recommended for a rainy...