Cairns War Memorial, War memorial at The Esplanade, Cairns, Australia

The Cairns War Memorial at The Esplanade is built from granite, sandstone, and marble, featuring a soldier statue alongside historical guns from 1887 and 1940. The structure combines these elements to create a multi-part tribute spanning different military periods.

The original World War I memorial was built in 1925 at Abbott Street and Shields Street to honor soldiers from that conflict. It was moved to its current location on The Esplanade in 1972.

The site honors individuals from the Cairns district through plaques that recognize their service across multiple conflicts, reflecting the community's military heritage. These visible tributes show how locals remember those who served.

The memorial sits along The Esplanade waterfront and is open daily for visitors to explore freely. Parking and facilities are available in the surrounding area, making it convenient to visit while walking along the shoreline.

The digger statue was carved by Townsville firm Melrose & Fenwick, which supplied diggers to several northern Queensland towns. Cairns is the exception among their statues: while the others stand with arms reversed in mourning, the Cairns soldier stands at ease. About half of Queensland's digger statues adopt this relaxed pose.