Cats and Dogs – All at Sea
Cats and Dogs — All at Sea consists of black and white photographs made by the Sydney photographer Samuel Hood who went on board countless ships between 1900 and the 1950s.
Continue readingPioneer deaths in Cairns
Dr Sandi Robb from the Cairns Historical Society talks about some of the interesting goings on at the Cairns Pioneer Cemetery with ‘Are you dying to know?’.
Continue readingEcho of the Past
Echo of the Past – Historical photographs from Mission Beach 1890s-1950s. Showing themes of community, sea and land, and the Djiru culture.
Continue readingKirrenderri Learning Resources
Learners and educators are invited to engage with the Kirrenderri, Heart of the Channel Country exhibition by utilising our learning resources.
Continue readingKirrenderri, Heart of the Channel Country
A visually striking and narrative rich exhibition chronicling extraordinary stories from one of the most remote locations at the very heart of Australia.
Continue readingStill Life Comes Alive, a Q&A with the Artists
To learn more about our latest exhibition, Still Life Comes Alive, we asked three artists to share the stories and inspiration behind their creations.
Continue readingExperimenting with Pottery
As part of our latest exhibition Still Life Comes Alive, we had a chat with Lone White about her life-long experimenting with making ceramics.
Continue readingOutstanding contributions to preserving history recognised in annual awards
Three respected researchers have been recognised by the Society and Museum for bringing the rich and diverse stories of Far North Queensland’s history to light.
Continue readingA Successful Year for Cairns Historical Society and Museum
Local history is in safe hands as Cairns Historical Society celebrates 65 years and strong visitor numbers at Cairns Museum.
Continue readingStill Life Comes Alive
Experience Cairns’ rich history through contemporary still life art at Cairns Museum’s collaborative exhibit with Cairns Art Society.
Continue readingCairns Historical Society – 65 Years Strong
Cairns Historical Society celebrate 65 years of serving as a custodian of local history and heritage.
Continue readingThe Orator’s Chair – a chair not to be sat upon!
Explore the rich history of Laurie Bragge’s collection through a selection of treasures, such as the Orator’s Stool, obtained from a Iatmul – speaking Tegoi villager in 1972.
Continue reading50 Treasures Revisited – Curator’s talk
Join Bronwyn McBurnie, Manager JCU Library Special Collections, as she shares insights into a selection of treasures on display.
Continue reading50 Treasures Revisited
Explore the rich history of James Cook University through a selection of treasures, showcased in a captivating exhibition.
Continue readingSmell Pods
Experience the smells of Far North Queensland in our exhibition Growing up in the Tropics through manmade and natural smell pods.
Continue readingGeorge Schipke – Cairns Combined Schools Band from 1942-1945
Read the story of George Schipke growing up in Cairns and his time in the Cairns Combined School Band in the 1940s.
Continue readingGrowing up in the Tropics
Growing up in the tropics is a unique experience. We invite you to reflect on your childhood in this new exhibition.
Continue readingBeach Couture: A Haute Mess
We don’t know what will remain of us centuries from now but one thing is certain: there will be plastic, lots of plastic. From 18 Nov 2022 to 25 Feb 2023.
Continue reading1 x 4 one object / four stories
Museums use objects to tell stories – but which story and from whose perspective? From 23 July – 12 Nov, 2022
Continue readingLanding Chinese at Cooktown, 1875
Wood engravings of Chinese Miners in Cooktown
Source: Illustrated Australian news, [Melbourne], July 2 1877.
This wood engraving was published in Melbourne in the midst of the Palmer River Gold Rush.
Before newspapers could reproduce photographs, engravings were a feature of ‘Illustrated’ publications. Engravers worked from sketches or photographs or neither! It is very unlikely that this unknown artist ever visited Cooktown.
The engraving shows Chinese men landing at Cooktown in great numbers, with goods on shoulder poles, on their way to the goldfield.
Note the tone of the commentary, using the word “Invasion” in the title. It picks up on anti-Chinese sentiment that was present on earlier goldfields in Victoria and New South Wales and that was transferred to the Palmer, via the European miners who joined the rush from southern state and also via anti-Chinese sentiment expressed freely in newspapers like these.
Source: State Library of Victoria. Original place published 17 May 1875 in Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne, Vic. : 1867 – 1875) 17 May 1875.
This wood engraving depicts an arrival scene of Chinese men being brought from the main ship to shallows on the Endeavour River, Cooktown. The men are using tenders (little boats) to reach the shoreline but are having to make the final leg by casting their goods over the side and swimming them to shore.
The image is pragmatic in its depiction of Chinese mass migration to the Palmer River goldfields from 1873, which at its height as a goldfield had over 18,000 Chinese men working the field.
The success of the goldfield led to the establishment of a port town Cooktown and resulted in the establishment of a Chinatown in Cooktown complete with two separate temples suggesting at least two different dialect groups were present.
Dr Sandy Robb
Sihot’e Nioge: When Skirts Become Artworks
Our new exhibition features the diverse and beautiful tapa art of the Omie people, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea. From 21 May – 30 July, 2022
Continue readingCareers
Current Vacancies
Exhibition Curator
The Cairns Museum is the most recognisable face of the Cairns Historical Society. It highlights the district’s history and heritage from First Nations, settlement and resource development through to our place as a leading tropical city. The Cairns Museum has an active educational program and supports in-house, community and travelling exhibitions through its gallery space, the Ground Floor Gallery.
Download the position description and selections criteria.
Please submit your application addressing the selection criteria, include a cover letter and an up to date resume by COB 30 September 2024 to eo@cairnsmuseum.org.au. Only shortlisted applicants will be contact.
Qualifications & experience
- Tertiary qualifications and/or equivalent experience in Museum Studies, Exhibitions or Curatorial role or other relevant equivalent experience deemed to be appropriate
- “C” Class Licence
Tasks & responsibilities
- Manage Cairns Museum’s permanent exhibitions and associated multimedia and infrastructure including maintenance, monitoring and annual cleaning.
- Research, develop and curate a professional, relevant and creative temporary exhibition schedule of inhouse exhibitions, collaborative community exhibitions, and external touring exhibitions for Cairns Museum’s Ground Floor Gallery.
- Manage the design and installation of all temporary exhibitions to a high standard and within budget, and coordinate all stages of installation.
- Innovate and grow the Ground Floor Gallery’s reputation through creative onsite, outreach, and online programs.
- Manage all aspects of Cairns’ Museum’s exhibition loans and associated administration, including transportation, condition reporting, acknowledgements, insurance and return as well as ensure loans, licences and Agreements are up to date for exhibitions and Society Collection.
- Ensure all collection management, exhibition design, installation, labelling, handling and storage is undertaken in line with best practice museum standards.
- Research, develop and write engaging stories of north Queensland’s social history and develop First Nation Exhibition protocols and processes in line with best practice museum standards.
- Provide curatorial content & support for social media, media and website including blogs/media release/ Facebook and Instagram. Ensure consistent brand management at all times
- Provide daily operational support to team as well as Executive support and/or other duties as required including contributing to monthly reporting, review gallery processes and procedures and prepare information required for venue performance reporting.
- Actively encourage the vision, values, principles and practices of Cairns Historical Society and promote a productive, creative, safe and inclusive exhibition environment.
Benefits
- This role enables you to enjoy a positive work/ life balance in a dynamic community situated in the great tropical city of Cairns. With close access to the reef and rainforest, it offers great outdoor and and creative recreational pursuits for you to relax and enjoy life.
