If These Walls Could Talk
22 March - 19 May 2025
- Sarah Morgan
For over 67 years the Cairns Historical Society has been collecting the social history of Cairns and far north Queensland. Over that time we have built up a unique and rare collection of community resources which reflect the tropical north. At the Cairns Museum, “if these walls could talk” they would have tales to tell about our unique tropical history and local community!
This year the Cairns Historical Society celebrates 45 years since it opened its doors of the Cairns Museum. In celebration of this anniversary, we have curated an exciting volunteer led exhibition in our Ground Floor Gallery. Under the direction of the Cairns Museum, Exhibition’s Curator Sarah Morgan, past and present Board members, staff and volunteer members have selected items for display or reflected on their association with the Cairns Museum.
From the unusual artefact to well-loved objects, this exhibition takes the visitor on a journey of collecting, collections and community. Based on the memories and stories of our member volunteers, favourite objects are on display, especially chosen for this exhibition and treasured for varied reasons. Many significant items in this exhibition are on view for the first time!

The Cairns Museum team had a difficult task to pare down the number of items which could be put on display. The final selection of pieces are diverse in format, topic and item. They range from delicate textiles, original illuminated manuscripts and handmade books, curious hats, un-provenanced objects, tiny furniture, curios and mystery items.
Visitors will be delighted by the variety of items on show. They can expect to read heartfelt reflections from our volunteer members, be able to listen to contemporary digital stories from our guides, view our rare and significant objects and images as well as participate in building the collection by assisting the Society to identify objects, add to stories and continue the tradition of collecting for the future.
We invite you to help celebrate the Museum’s 45th anniversary and add to our collection understanding and knowledge by contributing your ideas and knowledge of the displayed items in the comments box provided.
This is a unique opportunity to view Cairns and far north Queensland’s treasures from the Cairns Historical Society collection. We hope you will enjoy this exhibition and invite you to explore further by visiting our additional stories linked below.