Plans for a striking new arts and cultural precinct on the Cairns Esplanade could feature sculpted timber columns designed to reflect fig trees from the neighbouring Fogarty Park, according to new plans revealed by the Cairns Regional Council. The art gallery, part of a new master plan for the city’s CBD, aims to deliver a “21st century museum experience” and establish the city as a cultural destination ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
“The sculpted columns clad in timber emulate the canopies of the fig trees in the adjoining Fogarty Park,” the design report states. “Gallery lobbies are carved from the building form in a variety of endemic timbers.”
Set behind the heritage-listed Mulgrave Shire building, the proposed gallery offers dual access from Abbott Street and the Esplanade. It comes as renders published by The Cairns Post yesterday reveal a rooftop plant area, café, bar, and a second-floor outdoor dining terrace overlooking Fogarty Park and Trinity Inlet. The concept, commissioned by Cairns Regional Council in 2023, was awarded to CA Architects during a closed council session led by then-mayor Bob Manning. The motion was moved by current Deputy Mayor Brett Olds and seconded by Amy Eden, who was a councillor at the time and now serves as mayor.
Wood Central understands that First Nations architectural consultants Blaklash collaborated on the design to embed Indigenous stories into the precinct’s planning. “The design aims to generate a deep understanding and appreciation of Country,” the report notes. “By connecting with Country, the Cairns Gallery precinct presents a genuine gesture of welcome … and gathering.”
Drawing inspiration from the slippery blue fig tree, or Gimuy, the gallery’s form reflects the tree’s roots, trunk, and canopy—symbolism planners hope will resonate with the region’s cultural and environmental heritage. The proposal has gained momentum following the Queensland Government’s decision to scrap the $165 million First Nations cultural centre previously slated for Fogarty Park. Local leaders now see the gallery as a potential anchor for showcasing Cairns’ creative industries and revitalising the city centre.
Mayor Eden said that while she was disappointed by the cancellation, she remains optimistic about the gallery’s future. “We’ve got all the plans, all the detailed design for that new gallery. It could be fast-tracked if they wanted to have something happening for the Olympics and have a venue,” she said. “Cairns is a really special space because we’ve got Aboriginal and Torres Strait cultures, and that is a perfect opportunity to really put Cairns on the map. We’ve got the work there for that new gallery, and that would just really tie very nicely into the existing precinct.”
