Cairns
City in Queensland, Australia / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Cairns (/ˈkænz/ ⓘ;[note 1] Yidiny: Gimuy) is a city in Queensland, Australia,[4] on the tropical north east coast of Far North Queensland. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people.[1]
Cairns Queensland | |||||||||
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Coordinates | 16.92°S 145.78°E / -16.92; 145.78 (Cairns (town centre)) | ||||||||
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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The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson river.[5] 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.[6] The city has a gross regional product at about $10.2 billion.[7] 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.