Life In Australia: Cairns

A small city in the tropical north of Queensland, Cairns boasts a life that is leisurely and comfortable. The tempo quickens, however, at cane-cutting time when the sugar is harvested, and in winter when tourists come north to escape the cold. Made by The Commonwealth Film Unit 1964. If you know anyone in this film or anything about it please let us know. We'd love to get more detail.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Cairns
• Far
• North
• Queensland
• australia
• life
• tourism
• sugar
• cane
• history
• holidays
• industry
• tropical
• coast
• ocean
• reef
• sea
• Government
• Film
• Making
• Library
• fish
• fishing
• prawns
• trains
• railways
• footage
• travel
• adventure
• bay
• nature
• culture
• destination
• Holden
• cars
• rural
• town

[helenzoo11]

My mother was Mrs Taylor and Tony Madden (Police Officer) played Mr Taylor. We came to Cairns in 1954 and my brother and I still live here. Briought back some wonderful memories.

[FILMAUSTRALIA]

@helenzoo11 Amazing! Thanks for letting us know.

[TheRocknoel]

This brings back great memories. Is it possible to buy a copy, I am sure I can see myself in this film. Would love a copy just for old time sake.

[FILMAUSTRALIA]

@TheRocknoel Wow that's great if you are actually in the film - a blast from the past I bet.

If you would like a DVD please contact the Film Australia Collection Library at: faclibrary@nfsa.gov.au

Glad you liked it please keep watching.

[mortein43]

Yes -- this IS how it was. I also would very much like a copy on DVD or whatever -- the hospital DID look like that -- ditto the shops, the railway station AND the old airport. WOW! We lived there fofr 31 years from 1971, only one set of lights at the fiveways -- and hardly a roundabout!!!! This brings back so many memories. KL

[FILMAUSTRALIA]

@mortein43 Yes a great reminder of times gone by. Glad you enjoyed it. If you would like a DVD please contact the Film Australia Collection Library at: faclibrary@nfsa.gov.au Thanks keep watching.

[rcspoon1]

RIP drive-in

[CairnsWoody]

I was born in Cairns in 1965 and still live here.If Tony Madden was a policeman he would know my father as he was a policeman at the time.Good to see the old Cairns.

[bronnyhall1986]

I've lived in Cairns for the past 8 years and it was interesting to see some of the buildings in this video that are still here today. The hospital is still on the Esplanade, most of the churches still exist, some of the shops and buildings remain. Sadly the Coral Drive-in is closed, the current owners failed to maintain it and the screen was pulled down last year I believe.

[halachames]

I love this. I wish I was alive in this time

[liftwell]

@JCM1959A I wonder how many Aboriginal families were even allowed to live in the Cairns area at the time. Not many would be my guess, I feel many would be forced to live on the fringes out of sight out of mind etc. Fortunately things started changing for them a few years after this was filmed.

[liftwell]

Well it was filmed 3 years before the 1967 referendum that gave Aboriginals greater rights under law.

[Angelo32516]

Beautiful film, an excellente way of life!!!! The time should have stopped there!! Thanks for posting, a hug from Brazil!!!

[Lanson13]

oh my, this is just wonderful.... my mother plays the youngest daughter Julie, and I really look forward to showing this to her after so many years (she is a grandmother now). She also still lives in Cairns, we have 4 generations here now. Thank you for putting this on You Tube where we can all enjoy it.

[MrClone655]

I live here and i love it so much that if i eave anywhere else i get so homesick i love you cairns :)

BTW HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE

[peaceconvergence]

nice ports at 5-10-5.13 and you can see the old council chambers/library just before that from Abbott with the Ibis fig trees