Cairn Historical Society Research Centre
The Cairns Historical Society’s Research Centre is home to one of Far North Queensland’s most significant archival collections, offering a rich resource for personal and professional research.
Our Archives Collection holds more than 40,000 items, including personal memoirs, family histories, government and academic papers, rare books, unpublished reports, newspapers, journals and maps. Many of these are available in digital form.
A separate Images Collection features nearly 40,000 digitised photographs documenting people, places and events from across the region.
Together, these collections cover the full sweep of Far North Queensland’s history, from Cardwell to the Torres Strait and west to Burketown. They reflect the diverse stories of the Wet Tropics, Cape York Peninsula, the Einasleigh Uplands and the Gulf of Carpentaria, with a strong focus on Cairns.
Visiting the Research Centre
The collections are accessible in person by appointment or through an online enquiry. While the catalogue is not available online, our experienced archive and image researchers are here to help. Whether you’re visiting in person or submitting a remote request, our team can assist with locating material or conducting research on your behalf.
Fees
Research requests submitted online require an upfront payment covering the first hour of work. Reduced hourly rates apply after that. These fees help support the ongoing care and preservation of our collections to ensure they remain available for future generations.
Copies of materials may be purchased, subject to copyright restrictions.
Entry to the Research Centre and onsite assistance: $15 (members free)
Photocopying or digital copies: 40c per A4 page, 80c per A3 page
High resolution photographic scans: $38.50
Low resolution photographic scans: $13.50
Research (email or phone requests): $27.50 for the first hour, $22.00 per hour thereafter
Donate historical material
The Cairns Historical Society is always grateful for community donations of local and regional history and heritage items.
We collect original documents, photographs, diaries and objects that help tell the story of Far North Queensland. Items must have a strong regional connection and clear provenance, so we can accurately preserve their place in the historical record.
As a modern collecting facility, we follow national standards to care for and manage the collection. While not everything can be accepted, we’re always happy to talk with you about your item and its story. If it’s a good fit, we’ll provide a donation form and next steps.
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About Cairns Historical Society
Book an appointment to visit the Research Centre – the Collection holds more than 60,000 items covering an area from Cardwell to Bourke Shire.
EXPLOREPhotographic Collection
Seeing is believing - the Cairns Historical Society’s collection catalogue has been assessed as nationally significant for its extensive visual record of Far North Queensland.
