Cairns Gallery Precinct

Council has previously adopted its Strategy for Culture and the Arts with one of the desired outcomes from the strategic action plan including a master-planned arts precinct in the CBD. The Gallery Precinct was identified as a ‘project opportunity’ within the Cairns City Centre Masterplan community and stakeholder engagement consultation process in 2019 and is also included in the Cairns 2050 Shared Vision.

The Cairns Gallery Precinct project will transform and connect three heritage listed buildings comprising Cairns Art Gallery, Court House Gallery and the former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers (Mulgrave Gallery) in the Cairns city centre, to create a dynamic and world class gallery precinct which will include the detailed design of a new fit for purpose art gallery.

The project involves a number of stages and Council has recently completed the heritage refurbishment of the former Cairns Courthouse. Works have included the demolition of the “L Shape” building at 51 Esplanade with works progressing on the former Mulgrave Shire Council Chambers (Mulgrave Gallery).