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Cairns History
The Far Northern Coastal strip around Cairns was populated by several Aboriginal tribes for hundreds of years before the arrival of the first European settlers.
1770 Captain James Cook discovered Trinity Bay
1876 original settlement after Governor William Wellington Cairns proclaimed the establishment of a new port at Trinity Inlet
1880 Mulgrave Shire Council constituted inaugural chairman S. L. Loeven
1885 proclaimed municipality May 28 first council elected under Mayor W. J. Kingsford, grandfather of famous aviator Charles Kingsford-Smith, first council meeting July 22.
1903 proclaimed a town march 31
1906 street lamps introduced - kerosene/gas.
1911 first supply of water
1923 proclaimed a city October 12
1925 electricity (steam station) January
1976 Copperlode Dam opens as city's main water supply
1982 Original City Place opens
1984 cairns International Airport opens
1995 merger of Cairns city and Mulgrave shire councils
1996 Cairns Convention Centre opens
1998 new Cairns City Council administration building opens
2000 Olympic Torch Relay celebration "Ignite the Dream" July
2001 celebrated 125 years of European settlement
2001 celebrated Centenary of Federation
2001 work begins on foreshore for CBD Esplanade swimming lagoon project
2001 new look City Place completed
2001 work starts on redevelopment of Barlow Park
2002 Federal Cabinet under Prime Minister John Howard meets in Council Chambers
2003 "Big Splash" official opening of new Cairns Esplanade Project
2003 Commissioning of new Bedminster Regional Waste Facility
2003 Esplanade Project Stage 1, completed.
2003 Reef Plaza completed as part of City Port
2003 Work completed on Stage 2 Barlow Park
2003 Work completed on Stage 2 Esplanade, including Muddy's playground
2004 West Barlow Park redevelopment completed
2004 Opening of new Library and Customer Service Centre at Stockland Earlville Shopping Centre
