Cairns City
QLD 4870 • Rest of QLD
About Cairns City
Cairns City is the vibrant inner-city suburb at the heart of Cairns in Far North Queensland, situated approximately 1,700 kilometres north of Brisbane within the Cairns Regional Council area. Covering just 1.8 square kilometres at near sea level on Trinity Bay, this compact urban centre is home to 3,616 residents and serves as the commercial, tourism, and cultural hub of the region. With a median age of 44 and a notably high share of overseas-born residents, the suburb has a cosmopolitan character shaped by its role as the primary gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest.
The Cairns Esplanade lagoon and waterfront boardwalk are central to daily life, along with the Night Markets and Reef Fleet Terminal that draw visitors year-round. Shields Street, Lake Street, and the Cairns Central Shopping Centre provide retail and dining options, while Cairns Base Hospital serves the broader Far North region. The suburb's compact layout makes it highly walkable and well-suited to professionals in tourism, healthcare, and hospitality, as well as those seeking a laid-back tropical lifestyle close to world-class natural attractions.
Cairns City falls under postcode 4870 and is governed by Cairns Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Cairns electorate.
Location
Transport & Commute
Bus Services
- Sunbus Routes 110, 120, 121 — Northern Beaches and Southern Suburbs 15-40 min
Commute to Cairns CBD
🛣️ Cairns City is the CBD itself; Cairns Airport ~5km to the north; Sunbus services the wider city
Compact CBD layout means daily errands, dining, the Esplanade, and major amenities are easily reached on foot
Supermarkets Nearby
No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.
Schools
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Brinsmead Road
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394 Sheridan Street
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418 Mulgrave Road
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Cnr Sheridan and Upward Streets
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251 Draper Street
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177 Abbott Street
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18 Balaclava Road
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254 Pease Street
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10 Corkill Street
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50-60 Cowley Street
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5 Atkinson Street
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Hoare St
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Mayers Street
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122 Mulgrave Road
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13 Loeven Street
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Intake Road
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Jungara Road
Housing 2021 Census
16 state housing + 20 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)
Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census
School Sector Breakdown
Demographics
Population Growth
Gender Distribution (Census 2021)
Income Comparison
Country of Birth 2021 Census
Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)
- 1. England 150
- 2. New Zealand 84
- 3. India 59
- 4. France 41
- 5. South Korea 39
- 6. China 37
- 7. Italy 36
- 8. Philippines 34
- 9. Japan 29
- 10. Scotland 29
Ancestry 2021 Census
Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)