Cairns , is a major city in Queensland that is
Australia's 14th largest city. Cairns was founded
in 1876, encompassing smaller townships in the
far north of Queensland, Australia. The city was
named after William Wellington Cairns, then-
current Governor of Queensland. It was formed
to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson
River goldfield, but experienced a decline
when an easier route was discovered from Port
Douglas. It later developed into a railhead and
major port for exporting sugar cane, gold and
other metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and
the Atherton Tableland region. As of June 2011,
the population was approximately 156,169.

Cairns is located about 1,700 kilometres (1,100
mi) from Brisbane. It is a popular travel
destination for foreign tourists because of its
tropical climate. It serves as a starting point for
people wanting to visit the Great Barrier Reef
and Far North Queensland.

Cairns is a provincial city, with a linear urban
layout that runs from the south at Edmonton; to
the north at Ellis Beach. The city is
approximately 52 km (32 mi) from north to
south; it has experienced a recent urban
sprawl, with suburbs occupying land previously
used for sugar cane farming.