666:, moulded plaster ceilings and a patterned terrazzo floor leading to the staircase. The staircase has a terrazzo stair, iron balustrading and timber panelling. Timber doors with leaded glass panels and arched fanlights lead into the administration offices at the eastern end, which have suspended ceilings and air conditioning, and to the corridor leading to the corner gallery at the western end. Offices opening off this corridor, now used as storerooms, contain timber shelving and suspended ceilings. The first floor contains service rooms at the eastern end, with display spaces towards the western corner section. An arch which originally accessed a passage at the top of the stair leading to the northwest verandah has been closed in.
405:, finally acknowledged that the Cairns Court House was beyond renovation and that a new building was necessary. Plans were prepared in the government architect's office in 1918, working drawings were completed by January 1919, tenders for the supply of materials were called early in 1919, and construction was commenced in May that year. As a post-First World War initiative by the state government to create employment for returned servicemen, the new courthouse at Cairns was constructed using day labour, under the supervision of the District Foreman of Works, EJ Oakley. The construction period stretched over two and a half years, with the Cairns community attributing the slow progress of the building to the use of day labour.
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display cabinet to Abbott Street. The remaining corner rooms are used as display spaces, of which the eastern and southern rooms have timber panelled walls and the northern room has a barred window from its use as a strong room. The central space has four large columns, a plastered coffered ceiling, sections of timber and glass partitioning, some timber panelling, a timber counter, sections of terrazzo flooring and arched leaded fanlights. The first floor corner section is similar in plan and finishes, but has toilets located in the eastern corner room and none of its timber and glass partitions survive.
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reserve. At the time, it was considered to be very fine, the best erected building in Cairns, both in so far as appearance and design as well as in construction. By 1890, however, the local court had outgrown its courthouse, and the building was in a state of disrepair. Despite repeated comment from public and judicial circles alike that the courthouse at Cairns was the worst on the circuit, it was not replaced until the present building was completed late in 1921.
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an important regional centre after the First World War, without which confidence little of the city's spectacular growth at this time would have been possible. The complex has sustained a continued government presence in Cairns since the establishment of the town in 1876, in particular as the site of the Cairns Court House from 1884 to 1992.
495:. The building was designed to address both the adjacent courthouse and the newly established formal courthouse gardens, and the classical detailing of the facades re-affirmed the power and presence of government in the community. The building also was designed to be extended along Shields Street, with a repeat of the
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The eastern wing is narrower than the corner section, with a columned two-storeyed verandah to both the northern and southern sides. French doors open off the first floor verandahs, and the ground floor has patterned terrazzo floors and a central entry with rendered voussoir on the northern side. The
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Internally, the main court room contains silky oak fittings including the Judge's bench, which sits on a raised platform with a lion and unicorn crest on the wall behind, the prisoner's dock, jury and press seating and gallery rail. French doors and casement windows are separated by plaster pilasters
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The Court House is a single-storeyed rendered masonry building, with a hipped corrugated iron roof, fronting the Abbott Street gardens to the southwest. The building is T-shaped in plan, with offices and subsidiary court rooms forming the western wing and the main court room forming the eastern wing.
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31,000. The principal ground floor tenant was the SGIO, with the
Government Tourist Bureau occupying an office with display windows at the front. Other ground floor tenants included the Land Commission, Agricultural Bank, and Forestry officers. The principal occupant of the first floor was the Public
372:
in 1924, the extensive re-building necessitated by a spate of cyclones in the 1920s, and the poor condition of earlier timber structures, combined to produce unprecedented building activity in Cairns. The city centre in particular is dominated by masonry structures of the 1920s and 1930s, and in this
517:
vacated the building, and the Works
Department re-located some offices there in 1957. The SGIO vacated the building in 1969, following which the Public Curator's Office moved to the ground floor, and the Valuer General's Office occupied the whole of the first floor. In mid-1980, the Public Curator's
436:
agreed that their gardener at Edge Hill would lay out the grounds, to include concrete kerbing around the oval in the centre, and garden tile edging. Government approval for funding the project was granted in
January 1928, and the gardens were completed by early 1929. Concrete paths were laid in the
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The 1919–21 building was the third courthouse erected in Cairns. An 1878 marine survey of Cairns harbour indicates that the first courthouse was located on the customs reserve, and may have shared the same premises as the first customs house. This probably was the temporary courthouse erected by the
698:
The Cairns Court House
Complex survives as an important illustration of the growth and rebuilding of Cairns in the interwar years, when Cairns was transformed from a late 19th century town to a progressive, post-war city. In particular, the place illustrates State Government confidence in Cairns as
657:
Internally, the ground floor corner section of the building contains a central open space with a room to each corner which frame the porticos between. The western corner room contains an enclosed staircase which has a terrazzo floor and stair, an iron balustrade, timber panelled walls and a window
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The Cairns Court House
Complex, comprising a single-storeyed masonry Court House and two-storeyed masonry former Public Offices together with established gardens, imbue a formal expression of fine quality interwar public architecture adapted to suit a tropical climate. The classical detailing and
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The Abbott Street gardens form the southwest entry to the courthouse. These consist of a series of sinuous concrete paths and concrete edgings enclosing areas of lawn with clusters of plants. Palm trees are strategically located within the lawn areas, with a row forming a border to Abbott Street.
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The
Shields Street elevation has a corner section similar to the Abbott Street elevation, but with a narrower portico forming a secondary entry and smaller arched windows to either side. The southern elevation, fronting the park, is similar again, but the ground floor portico is enclosed with an
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reported on the requirements for an office building on the site, which would necessitate the re-location of the Senior
Sergeant's Residence and the Tracker's Hut. In the same month, Cabinet approved that the Works Department erect an office building for and at the expense of the SGIO, and sketch
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The "temporary" courthouse remained in use for several years, but was replaced during the second phase of Cairns' development. In 1883 the Works
Department prepared plans for a more substantial timber courthouse, which was erected in 1884 on the Esplanade, but facing Abbott Street, on the police
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Verandahs are located on the southeast, northwest and between the eastern and western wings. These have timber posts on masonry upstands with timber batten balustrade between, arched timber valance, raked boarded ceilings and timber floors. Arched panelled windows with central hopper sections,
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The eastern wing contains a central entry with vestibule and staircase, with offices to either side and a corridor leading to the corner section of the building. The entry has double timber doors with an arched leaded fanlight, timber panelling, timber reception with pilasters and
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Office vacated the building, following which the interior was remodelled, and the ground floor occupied principally by offices of the
Magistrate's Courts. In 1992/93 the building was converted for use as the Cairns City Council's Fine Arts Gallery, now the Cairns Regional Gallery.
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13,500, was completed, and the court room was used for the first time on 17 January 1922. From this first sitting, it was evident that although the room was well ventilated, the acoustics were poor due to the height of the ceiling. Not until 1959 was the problem rectified, with a
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This wing contains a central entry corridor flanked by offices with a court room to either side and chambers beyond these. Throughout this wing walls are rendered, suspended ceilings have been inserted and the original layout of spaces has been altered.
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In 1968, the building was extended at a cost of approximately $ 53,000, with the extensions rendered to match the existing facades, and the roof re-clad with corrugated iron sheeting. The remodelling created a second court room and a magistrate's court.
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above. At the eastern end, former witness rooms are located on either side of main court room. The northern room contains a hardboard ceiling with timber cover strips and the southern room has had an extension to the south to provide toilet facilities.
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established the town as the principal port in the region. These boosts to the local economy in the 1880s generated a second building and development phase, during which the early temporary structures were replaced by more substantial timber buildings.
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The former Cairns Court House (erected 1919–21) and the Cairns Art
Gallery (former Cairns Public Offices, erected 1934–1936) are located on a 2-acre site reserved since 1876 for police purposes. Both buildings were erected during the years between the
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In particular, the place illustrates State Government confidence in Cairns as an important regional centre after the First World War, without which confidence little of the city's spectacular growth at this time would have been possible.
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plans were completed in April that year. By September 1933, however, the Public Service Commissioner had decided that the government would erected the building with general funding, and rent offices to various government departments.
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to either side. The northwest facade has a double casement, with a panelled hopper above, to either side of the central porch and stepped parapets are located midway in the hipped roof revealing the corners of the main court room.
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The Cairns Court House Complex survives as an important illustration of the growth and rebuilding of Cairns in the interwar years, when Cairns was transformed from a late 19th century town to a progressive, post-war city.
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fittings in the court room. The roof was of fibrous-cement tiles with terracotta ridge capping. This roof was replaced with corrugated fibrous-cement roof sheeting in 1953, at which time the roof ventilators were removed.
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and deep sills. Each window unit has a double casement with a single casement either side and panelled hoppers above. An extra bay has been added to the north and south ends providing chambers and toilet facilities.
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respect is markedly different from other Queensland towns and cities. Reinforced concrete was the preferred building material, but the Queensland Government chose to erect the important Public Offices in brick.
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Curator, along with the District Foreman of Works, Inspectors of Weights and Measures, Health, Slaughter Houses, Fruits and Diseases in Plants, and visiting tax inspectors and parliamentarians.
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In 1992, the building was vacated when a new courthouse and police station complex opened in Sheridan Street, and remained unused until it was renovated as the Cairns Courthouse Hotel in 1998.
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This complex, consisting of the Court House, Art Gallery and Abbott Street gardens, is located on the eastern corner of Abbott and Shields Streets within the Cairns central business district.
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The building is now home to the Court House Gallery. Opened in 2020, the Gallery features exhibitions of historical and contemporary art by regional, national and international artists.
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The complex has sustained a continued government presence in Cairns since the establishment of the town in 1876, in particular as the site of the Cairns Court House from 1884 to 1992.
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Late in 1936, the grounds around the new Public Offices were laid out, with concrete kerbing to match that in the courthouse gardens, and the lawn extended to the new building.
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portico (receding into the building with two columns flanked by pilasters) on a rendered base with a circular window in the pediment. The recessed portico has a first floor
456:(SGIO) requested that part of the Police Reserve at the corner of Shields and Abbott Streets, Cairns, be made available for the erection of a new SGIO office. In 1930, the
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and a section of concrete balustrade to either side. The southwest facade comprises a series of triple window units separated by pilasters with an expressed base, jettied
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In 1926, the city's sesqui-centenary year, the Cairns Chamber of Commerce requested that the Queensland Government improve the Court House grounds. In January 1927, the
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646:, with an arched window to either side which contain more recent aluminium framed glazing. The first floor has a casement window to either side of the portico.
336:. In this first phase of Cairns' development there was a small flurry of building activity (mostly shanties and tent houses), but the town competed with both
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642:, with metal balustrade, off which open arched doorways and sash windows. The ground floor has a terrazzo portico floor and a central entry with rendered
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and shipped to Cairns, but the remainder of the timber used in the construction was secured from the Cairns hinterland. Particularly impressive were the
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on the western end of that facade, but this extension has never occurred. The building has glazed bricks with rendered quoining and opening surrounds.
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timber products. However, the leadlights were supplied by a Brisbane company, and the roof was clad originally with fibrous cement tiles supplied by
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The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.
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588:. Below these are French doors, with panelled glass upper portions and hopper fanlights, and casement windows opening onto the verandah.
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The new Public Offices occupied a prominent position at the intersection of Abbott and Shields Streets, which contained the conspicuous
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The place has a strong or special association with a particular community or cultural group for social, cultural or spiritual reasons.
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This Georgian Revival building was designed to be extended to the northeast along the Shields Street frontage, with a repeat of the
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for the Hodgkinson trade, and made little progress until the establishment of a local sugar industry and the opening up of the
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was consolidated, and the city centre virtually re-built. Both are substantial masonry buildings, whose construction reflected
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Sawmill. The principal offices and public spaces were wall-panelled and floored with local figured timbers as a promotion for
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The new Public Offices were completed by late March 1936, and were opened officially in July that year. They had cost nearly
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of the government architect's office. The new building was constructed mainly of hinterland materials, with bricks from
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World Wars, the third major phase of Cairns' development, at which time the city's status as the principal port of
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The place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a particular class of cultural places.
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Whilst a number of masonry commercial buildings were erected in Cairns in the years immediately preceding the
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The central entrance of the eastern wing has a recessed porch with twin paired columns flanked by a single
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348:' mineral fields, in the early 1880s. The 1885 announcement that Cairns was to be the terminus for the
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360:, the third major phase of Cairns' development was during the 1920s and 1930s. The Cairns hinterland
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To the east of this building is the Court House, with the Abbott Street gardens to the southeast.
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interior finishes of the former Public Offices express a high quality of design and workmanship.
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confidence in the growth of Cairns as an important regional centre during the interwar period.
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The symmetrical Abbott Street elevation, forming the main entry, consists of an Ionic central
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Cairns was established officially in October 1876, as a port to service the newly discovered
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The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history.
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roof, is located on the eastern corner of the site fronting Abbott and Shields Streets.
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the main court room, are located above the verandah line with deep curved timber eave
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Cairns Court House Complex, Cairns Court House and Art Gallery (former Public Offices)
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eastern elevation is rendered, with arched casement windows to the ground floor.
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A row of palm trees is located to the northeast of the building lining the
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on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the
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The Art Gallery, a two-storeyed masonry structure with a corrugated iron
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Construction commenced in 1934, with the plans attributed to architect
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from The Esplanade. To the west of this building is the Art Gallery.
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on the western end, but this planned extension was never undertaken.
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292:, Australia. It was built from 1919 to 1921. It was added to the
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Cairns Court House Complex Discover Queensland Buildings website
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The place is important because of its aesthetic significance.
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on 21 October 1992 having satisfied the following criteria.
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grounds in 1946, and in 1949/50 the grounds were replanted.
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arched window, and the first floor has a recessed balcony.
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By November 1921 the new courthouse, which had cost over
535:
The central entrance of the western wing has a recessed
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Some of the joinery was made in government workshops in
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and a lion and unicorn crest. This is supported by two
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In the mid-1950s the Government Tourist Bureau and the
460:
submitted an identical request. In February 1933, the
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This Knowledge (XXG) article was originally based on
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and a former public administration building (now an
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Location of Cairns Court House Complex in Queensland
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268:is a heritage-listed site incorporating a former
866:"Cairns Courthouse Hotel :: Lantern Hotels"
543:surmounted by a stepped parapet with a curved
686:Cairns Court House Complex was listed on the
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829:"Cairns Court House Complex (entry 600376)"
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923:"Queensland heritage register boundaries"
993:Art museums and galleries in Queensland
934:licence (accessed on 5 September 2014,
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998:Government buildings completed in 1921
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29:Historic site in Queensland, Australia
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458:Queensland Government Tourist Bureau
364:of the 1920s, the completion of the
189:office/s, garden – bed/s, courthouse
515:Department of Agriculture and Stock
448:Former Public Offices (Art Gallery)
988:Government buildings in Queensland
973:Buildings and structures in Cairns
916:licence (accessed on 7 July 2014,
905:"The Queensland heritage register"
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454:State Government Insurance Office
153:state heritage (built, landscape)
978:Former courthouses in Queensland
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399:Queensland Government Architect
179:1930s (historical govt offices)
181:1919–1920s (courthouse fabric)
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1003:Tourist attractions in Cairns
837:. Queensland Heritage Council
616:Cairns Regional Gallery, 2015
429:fixed to the existing beams.
177:1910s (historical courthouse)
968:Queensland Heritage Register
834:Queensland Heritage Register
688:Queensland Heritage Register
476:and joinery from Johnston's
386:in Cairns in December 1877.
294:Queensland Heritage Register
135:Queensland Heritage Register
855:Cairns Post 3 July 1884:2:4
539:with a slightly projecting
462:Public Service Commissioner
1024:
362:Soldier Settlement Schemes
300:Cairns Court House Gallery
276:) at 38–40 Abbott Street,
266:Cairns Court House Complex
35:Cairns Court House Complex
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870:www.lanternhotels.com.au
401:and Under Secretary for
46:Cairns Court House, 2015
1008:Cairns City, Queensland
948:Cairns Regional Gallery
116:1914–1919 (World War I)
617:
427:false acoustic ceiling
226:Show map of Queensland
186:Significant components
938:on 15 October 2014).
673:Abbott Street Gardens
615:
470:Raymond Clare Nowland
366:North Coast rail link
334:Hodgkinson goldfields
327:Queensland Government
254:Show map of Australia
323:Far North Queensland
296:on 21 October 1992.
97:16.9213°S 145.7777°E
928:State of Queensland
910:State of Queensland
493:Cairns War Memorial
434:Cairns City Council
395:Alfred Barton Brady
346:Atherton Tablelands
93: /
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174:Significant period
166:Reference no.
102:-16.9213; 145.7777
55:38 Abbott Street,
18:Cairns Court House
926:published by the
908:published by the
350:Herberton railway
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16:(Redirected from
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983:Hotels in Cairns
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876:on 21 April 2016
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682:Heritage listing
636:distyle in antis
482:North Queensland
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878:. Retrieved
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403:Public Works
392:
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342:Port Douglas
331:
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265:
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26:
893:Attribution
664:entablature
608:Art Gallery
555:flanked by
530:Court House
522:Description
278:Cairns City
274:art gallery
100: /
88:145°46′40″E
76:Coordinates
71:, Australia
57:Cairns City
962:Categories
738:References
377:Courthouse
290:Queensland
270:courthouse
158:Designated
85:16°55′17″S
69:Queensland
557:pilasters
478:Stratford
414:silky oak
393:In 1917,
124:1919–1921
936:archived
918:archived
880:12 April
841:1 August
644:voussoir
602:driveway
594:cornices
586:brackets
582:lighting
545:pediment
410:Brisbane
370:Brisbane
338:Cooktown
52:Location
640:balcony
629:portico
553:columns
549:cornice
497:portico
474:Mareeba
308:History
930:under
912:under
573:column
541:facade
319:Second
282:Cairns
169:600376
61:Cairns
622:gable
592:with
561:eaves
537:porch
315:First
121:Built
882:2016
843:2014
340:and
317:and
150:Type
368:to
964::
868:.
831:.
746:^
547:,
488:.
397:,
288:,
284:,
280:,
67:,
63:,
59:,
884:.
845:.
504:£
422:£
20:)
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