In 2026, Cairns will mark an extraordinary milestone - 150 years since its official founding in 1876 - your participation helps to:

• Strengthen community pride
• Celebrate cultural diversity and shared heritage
• Encourage connection across generations and neighbourhoods
• Support local businesses and industries
• Preserve Cairns’ history for future generations

Be part of Cairns’ next chapter. Your contribution — no matter how big or small — adds value to the shared story of Cairns.

Artist Appreciation: Hayley Gillespie

I arrived in Cairns on a warm, balmy December day in 1996 as a wide-eyed backpacker from London and instantly felt at home. I was captivated by the vivid colours intensified by the tropical sunlight, the lush, oversized foliage, and the wonderful wildlife. The vibrant iconography of everything that makes Cairns ‘Cairns’ quickly became my creative inspiration.

Since then, my artistic journey has evolved to include a wide range of work: from exhibiting in galleries to commercial illustration, from designing sets and costumes for theatre to creating artwork for tourism, public art projects, and private commissions. My style continues to celebrate the colour, life, and energy of Far North Queensland — the place that stole my heart and continues to inspire every brushstroke.