General News
15 April, 2026
Humble start for hospitals
CAIRNS Hospital began with just a handful of beds in a timber building near the Esplanade.
Built through community fundraising and a government grant, this early medical post was a symbol of the city’s grassroots spirit.
As Cairns grew, so did the hospital. In 1884, a timber and stone facility replaced the original, and by 1912, a grand two-storey building was erected, ushering in a new era of regional healthcare.
In 1932, it became known as Cairns Base Hospital, a name it carried until 2013. By then, it had expanded from 136 beds in the 1930s to over 350 by the late 1990s.
Today, Cairns Hospital is the largest public health facility in Far North Queensland, servicing a region from Tully to the Torres Strait. A recent announcement will see the hospital undergo a $1 billion expansion.
From seaside shack to state-of-the-art medical hub, Cairns Hospital’s evolution mirrors the story of the city itself: resilient, ambitious and always growing.
Herries Private Hospital
FOUNDED in the early 1900s by nurse Janet Abercrombie Herries, Herries Private Hospital, also known as Herries House, became a safe haven for both maternity and general patients as one of Cairns’ first private hospitals.
Nurse Janet ran the hospital from 1921-1939, quickly making a name for herself around the region.
Ladies from all over Far North Queensland found their way to Cairns to give birth at Herries Hospital.
The building is at 180 McLeod Street, Cairns, just across the street from the Pioneer Cemetery.
During 1927, the hospital was damaged during a cyclone, as is the fate of many Cairns buildings.
However, repairs were quickly tended to, and it was back into shape in no time.
Throughout WWII, the property was bought by Matron Herries and an air raid shelter was created in the back yard.
After the death of both Matron Herries and her son Charles, the property quickly decayed.
In 2013, the owners of the property wrapped the building in plastic to prevent further damage and they embarked on their plan to restore the property, completing the task in 2014. The building is now a private home and not publicly accessible.
