CAIRNS, Queensland, Australia, became Sidney’s first sister city in May, 1984.
Like Sidney, Cairns is a coastal city It’s located in the tropical area of Queensland, on the north-east coast of Australia. The nearby Great Barrier Reef means tourism is a major component of the region’s economy. It is also a major shipping centre for exports of mineral products and agricultural goods such as sugar cane, fruit and vegetables.
Cairns has a vibrant arts community and The Tanks is a unique arts venue constructed within some oil storage tanks dating from WWII. This unique space lends itself to all sorts of exhibitions, performances and concerts. Over the years Sidney has partcipated in ceramics, photographic and fabric arts shows showcasing work by artists from Cairns’ and it’s seven sister cities.
Cairns’ downtown core is an interesting mix of historic Queensland-style and modern high-rise buildings and the city boasts a beautiful waterfront park – The Esplanade – with BBQ pits, picnic areas, playgrounds and other facilities.
One thing Cairns does not have are sandy beaches, instead it has a large man-made lagoon, complete with a sandy beach and fish sculptures.
The Sister Cities BBQ pit on the Esplanade.
Hides Corner a well preserved Queensland style building in the centre of Cairns
A good example of how Cairns mixes the old and new, tall and short
SSCA members have visited Cairns in a private capacity.
- Artist and SSCA member Richard Wong, spent some weeks in Cairns as an Artist in Residence at The Tanks Arts Centre in 2014.
- In 2015 we helped send two pupils from Sidney’s Parkland School to Cairns as part of a youth ambassador programme. Unfortunately the programme has since been discontinued.