Cairns, Queensland (QLD)

On the humid north eastern coast of Far North Queensland, Cairns is a city in the Australian state of Queensland. The population increased by an average of 1.02% yearly over the five years prior, reaching 153,952 in June 2019. The population of the city ranks fifth in Queensland and fifteenth overall in Australia. Following the finding of gold in the Hodgkinson river, the city was established in 1876 and given the honorary name of Sir William Wellington Cairns. Cairns benefited greatly from the arrival of Chinese immigrants who advanced the area's agriculture throughout the late 19th century. Blackbirding ships used Cairns as a port to deliver slaves and indentured laborers to the sugar plantations in Innisfail. The settlement served as a staging area for the Allied Forces in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. By the late 20th century, the city had established itself as a key hub for international travel, and by the early 21st century, it had grown into a significant metropolis. Due to its tropical temperature, proximity to tropical rainforest, and access to the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Cairns is a well-liked travel destination.