General News
28 October, 2026
Keeping peace since 1876
THE story of policing in Cairns began under remarkable circumstances in October 1876, when Police Inspector Howard St George arrived from Townsville to ensure a group of Chinese settlers could safely come ashore at Trinity Inlet.
Just days earlier, the men had been prevented from landing due to strong anti-Chinese sentiment within the fledgling settlement.
In response, a special police force was assembled, including Inspector Clohesy and Sub Inspector Douglas with his Aboriginal troopers, to maintain order and support the landing. St George was soon appointed Cairns’ first Police Magistrate.
As the young township took shape, surveyor Sharkey set aside a prominent waterfront site for the police station, cells, barracks and horse paddock.
The precinct backed onto Abbott Street, which quickly became the centre of commerce and government activity, while police horses grazed along the shores of Trinity Inlet.
Early policing conditions were far from comfortable. Officers lived and worked in tents and endured harsh tropical weather, including the devastating cyclone of 1878 that destroyed their accommodation.
It was not until 1884 that a permanent timber barracks, complete with sergeant’s quarters and cells, was constructed.
The Cairns Police Station entered a new era in 1913 with the opening of a purpose-built station on the Esplanade.
A formal photograph of the constabulary marked the occasion, capturing a proud and growing police presence in the region.
Over the next century, policing evolved alongside the city, with significant changes to uniforms, technology, vehicles and facilities.
In 1992, the modern Cairns District Police Headquarters opened in Sheridan Street, designed to accommodate 140 police officers and 18 public servants.
From managing a tense landing on the shores of Trinity Inlet to modern crime prevention and community engagement, police have remained a steadfast presence, serving and protecting the region for 150 years.
