Entertainment
17 May, 2026
Book launched
THE Cairns Historical Society’s new publication ‘Cairns: A Tropical Town Takes Shape’, explores how government reserves and public land helped shape the development of Cairns in the town’s first two decades following its establishment in 1876.
Mayor Amy Eden launched the book at the Cairns Museum alongside author Michael Brumby, sponsors and members of the community.
Mr Brumby said the book focused on the “various reserves, the land set aside by the government for public purposes”.
“Things we probably would take for granted these days, ranging from the fact that we are on the very asset, we had a customs house on the customs reserve,” he said.
“We had a courthouse established on a courthouse reserve, a police station.
“And it goes on to cover the first 20 years of the formation of the town, where today we have Munro Martin Park, but that was our very first recreation reserve, which was put up in the mid-1880s.”
Mr Brumby said researching and writing the book had given him a greater appreciation of the city after moving to Cairns several years ago.
“I moved here only three or four years ago, and it was because of opportunity, and those exact same people had the exact same sentiment back in 1876,” he said.
“And if we look at the town city today, 150 years later, we’ve all done very, very well, because we’ve made the most of the opportunities that the place has provided.”
Mayor Amy Eden said preserving Cairns’ history was important for future generations.
“These stories of what once was a small, pioneering town and now a thriving regional centre deserve to be preserved, shared and passed on for generations to come,” Cr Eden said.
“Cairns has always been built on hard work and resilience.
Cairns Historical Society and Cairns Museum president Dr Clive Skarott praised the depth of research behind the publication and Mr Brumby’s attention to detail.
