General News
25 September, 2022
The Queen in Cairns - A Celebration
A CARNIVAL atmosphere pervaded the city of Cairns during the Queen’s visit on Saturday, March 13, 1954.
The city’s population swelled to 50,000 with many visitors descending on the city from neighboring districts. Truckloads and carloads of people reportedly came down from Kuranda and the Atherton Tablelands. Almost the entire populations of Tully, Innisfail and Babinda came up to town from the south.
Cairns’ hotels were filled to capacity. The Minister for Agriculture, Mr. H. H. Collins and his wife stayed at the Pacific Hotel. Mr. Collins had the official duty of presenting the Mayor, Alderman W. J. Fulton and Mrs. Fulton to the Royal visitors. Other guests hailed from Bedarra Island, Mossman and Tully.
The Hotel Central hosted travellers from Mareeba and as far away as Thursday Island.
The city itself had been spruced up with ferns and palm fronds adorning many properties and landmarks. As a gesture of goodwill Cairns City Council invited the Shires of Mulgrave and Johnstone to contribute ornamental arches.
The Mulgrave Shire Arch was decorated by Messrs. G. Bates and J. Buzacott of the Sugar Experiment Station. The cost of the arch was £100 according to Mulgrave Shire Clerk, Mr. A. H. Forno. It was situated on Florence Street, at the railway crossing between McLeod Street and Five Ways.
The Innisfail Arch organized by the Johnstone Shire Council was a distinctive feature at Paramatta Park as it greeted the Royal visitors upon their arrival. It had been designed by Mr. Jack Fossey and painted by Mr. G. Beck and featured a portrait of the Queen. Cairns City Council’s own contribution was a Tudor Arch designed by Mr. E. R. Orchard.
There were many events before and after the Royal visit. Activities included: gala dinners, dance parties, dinner dances, musical performances, and a Monster Carnival for the children. The Cairns Jockey Club even put on a special six race program starting at 2.20pm.
Sources: TROVE, Cairns Historical Society(CHS), Mulgrave Shire Historical Society (MSHS).
