Cairns
Cairns (/ˈkænz/ ⓘ; Yidiny: Gimuy) is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.
| Cairns Gimuy (Yidiny) Queensland | |||||||||
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Cairns | |||||||||
| Coordinates | 16.92°S 145.78°E | ||||||||
| Population | 153,181 (2021) (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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The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson river. 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 metropolitan city.
The economy of Cairns is based primarily on tourism, healthcare and education, along with a major capacity in aviation, marine and defence industries. The city has a gross regional product at about $10.2 billion. 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.