General News
11 February, 2026
Roads connecting our city
IN the early days, Cairns was connected to nearby towns via rough tracks and dray paths.
The Gillies Highway, which opened in 1926, was a feat of engineering, winding through 263 bends to reach the Tablelands.
If you think the Gillies Range Road is a challenging drive today, spare a thought for the drivers in the 1920s.
With construction beginning in the early 1920s, and the official opening taking place in 1926, the road provided much needed access to the Atherton Tablelands.
Originally a one-way road with a timetable for traffic flow, it is now a two-way road, along 19km, with a stomach churning 263 corners.
The road was named after William Gillies, a former Queensland State Premier, and remains a popular tourist drive today.
The Captain Cook Highway offers stunning ocean views and access to beaches and Port Douglas.
The road to Port Douglas was officially opened in 1933 and immediately became popular with motorcycle riders.
Donning full length leather coats, boots and sporting a wide brimmed hats (in the days when helmets were not mandatory), Rex’s Lookout became a popular turn-off spot for taking in the beautiful view of Trinity Bay
The Bruce Highway connected Cairns southward, becoming a key freight and tourism route.
Urban roads have since been upgraded with bike lanes, roundabouts and smart signalling, balancing population growth with tropical conditions and scenic beauty.
Lake Street
Lake Street is a major thoroughfare in Cairns’ city centre, linking the CBD’s commercial core with the Esplanade.
It combines heritage elements, lush tropical landscaping and contemporary urban design, creating a vibrant route used daily by residents, workers, tourists and other visitors.
Ripped up in the 1960s for major plumbing and draining works, the Lake Street corner looks very different now, but some things remain the same such as Hides Hotel, Mazlin’s Building, the TAA building and of course, the School of Arts building.
The wet season usually brings heavy rainfall that can lead to localised flooding, affecting roads, public transport and construction timelines … remember, if it is flooded … forget it.
