Cairns Court House Complex, Heritage courthouse and art gallery in Cairns, Australia.
Cairns Court House Complex is a T-shaped courthouse building with rendered masonry walls, high ceilings, and a recessed porch supported by classical columns on Abbott Street. The site also includes the Cairns Regional Gallery and is surrounded by Abbott Street Gardens featuring concrete paths and palm trees.
The courthouse was constructed between 1919 and 1921, replacing earlier facilities that served the growing population of the Hodgkinson goldfields region since 1876. The building reflects Cairns' importance as a key administrative and commercial centre during this period.
The former Public Offices section now houses the Cairns Regional Gallery, which displays historical and contemporary art in a Georgian Revival building. Visitors can observe how administrative rooms have been transformed into a space for showing art and local collections.
The complex is located near the city centre and is easily accessible on foot, with clear pathways through Abbott Street Gardens. Visitors should check opening times for the gallery, as the courtroom is not always open for public viewing.
The Main Court Room preserves original silky oak fittings, including a raised judge's bench and architectural details from the interwar period. These craftsmanship techniques and materials from that era are rarely found today.
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