subject: Back To The Days Of Gold Mining In Cairns [print this page] The city of Cairns in Queensland is one that has a very prominent place in the history of colonial occupation of Australia. The city was created to provide housing for gold miners and their families that worked in the nearby Hodgkinson River mine. Thus, Cairns is a city that remains inextricably bound to the history of Australias gold rush and the days of frontier towns that were created in the harsh bush lands.
Today, the town has been transformed almost unrecognizably. Its economy depends mainly on the tourism industry; a far cry from the hard days of gold mining. However, the Cairns museum serves as a reminder for residents and visitors of the harsh realities that the first inhabitants of the area had to deal with.
The museum attempts to recreate the history of the town and the region using a blend of pictorial and documental evidence. The museum traces the history of the town to the days of Aborigines, who were the areas first inhabitants, and the later arrival of Islanders. A collection of paintings and tools that were created by the three aboriginal tribes that used to inhabit the region can be seen at the museum. Apart from the arrival of the Europeans in the area, the museum also chronicles the presence of the Chinese in Cairns. They are said to have arrived as helpers and miners to sustain the booming gold rush in the region. In later years the hardworking Chinese community branched out in to metallurgy and commerce.
The Cairns Museum is maintained by the Cairns Historical Society, which believes that the history of the region should remain preserved for future generations. The museum lies within easy reach of many a Cairns hotel such as the Shangri-La Hotel, The Marina, Cairns. This Cairns luxury hotel in the Marina area allows visitors great access to many of the towns entertainment venues as well beautiful vistas of the Pacific Ocean.
