| Cairns Gimuy (Yidiny) Queensland | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
  Cairns | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 16°55′S 145°47′E / 16.92°S 145.78°E | ||||||||
| Population | 153,181 (2021)[1] (15th) | ||||||||
| • Density | 602.36/km2 (1,560.11/sq mi) | ||||||||
| Established | 1876 | ||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4870 | ||||||||
| Elevation | 7 m (23 ft) | ||||||||
| Area | 254.3 km2 (98.2 sq mi) | ||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||
| Location |
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| LGA(s) | Cairns Region | ||||||||
| County | Nares | ||||||||
| State electorate(s) | |||||||||
| Federal division(s) | |||||||||
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Cairns (/ˈkɛərnz/ ; Yidiny: Gimuy) is a city in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia,[2] on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.[1]
The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River.[3] During World War II, the city became a staging ground for the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea. By the late 20th century the city had become a centre of international tourism. In the early 21st century, it has developed into a major regional city.
The economy of Cairns is based primarily on tourism, healthcare and education, along with a major capacity in aviation, marine and defence industries.[4] The city has a gross regional product at about $11.4 billion as of 2023.[5] The city is served by Cairns International Airport, the seventh busiest airport in Australia. Cairns also has a major cruise ship industry servicing both domestic and international markets, with terminals at Cairns Seaport and Cairns Wharf Complex.
Cairns is a major tourist destination, with access to two UNESCO world heritage sites; the Daintree Rainforest as part of the Wet Tropics of Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
Census2021was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Cairns – city (entry 5683)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
- ^ "The Electoral Rolls". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 1, 246. Queensland, Australia. 9 October 1876. p. 3. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021. Retrieved 5 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Key industries in Cairns". Choose Cairns. 27 October 2021. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
- ^ "Cairns Regional Council: economic profile". .idcommunity. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023.