We often hear stories that in years gone by there was a sandy beach on the Cairns Esplanade. Is there any truth to this legend? The answer is ‘yes and no’.
Some have suggested that the Esplanade was similar to the white sandy beaches found around the coastline. The truth is, there was indeed a sandy strip on the ‘Nard’ but if you walked out more than a few feet, you found your way into the mud.
On the beach at Cairns Esplanade in 1893
The picture (left) of the Esplanade taken in 1893 shows a sandy beach, while the picture (below) from 1907 shows a muddier surface further out and Chinese Junks are pictured in the distance!
Chinese Junks off Cairns Esplanade in 1907
Thank you to Mr. Fred Morris of Edmonton for sending some more photos taken of Cairns distant past!
Oh, and to answer another common question, ‘Yes’ there would be mangroves on the Esplanade if CRC did not remove the seedlings when they sprout!
Cairns Port and History
With the Cairns Port area in the news, it was interesting to come across the below pictures on The Cairns Post website.
Above: These elegant ladies of 1895 and their smartly dressed children wait at Burns Philp wharf on the Cairns waterfront as a steamer arrives, bringing passengers from the south for holidays. Photographer: Cairns Historical Society
We wonder how much building the School of Arts building cost Council back in 1907 and if it created even half the furore currently associated with the new Cairns Entertainment Precinct.
One of the oldest buildings still standing in Cairns is the Cairns Museum in City Place. It was formerly the School of Arts
Section 2: Anderson Street (shown in blue) – Starts at MacDonnell Street along the northern side of Anderson Street to the start of Lily Creek on James Street. There is another small section on Cannon Street near MacDonnell Street.
