About

This is a free public event - bookings are required to assist with seating and catering.

As part of the Cairns 150 celebrations, the Cairns Historical Society and Cairns Museum are presenting a series of free public lectures throughout 2026. Held every second month, each lecture afternoon features two talks exploring key moments, people and themes from Cairns and Far North Queensland’s history.

LECTURE #1
The history of Cairns from 1876 to 1896 Will Always Be a Moving Feast
Michael Brumby

Well-known north Queensland author Michael Brumby presents findings from his research for the Cairns Historical Society’s latest publication, Cairns: A Tropical Town Takes Shape. This lecture traces the development of Cairns from its First Nations origins through early contact, settlement planning, key personalities and formative moments that shaped the emerging town and region.

LECTURE #2
Not for the faint hearted: Women of FNQ
Dr Jan Wegner

Women have played vital roles in Cairns’ history, yet their contributions have often remained invisible in the historical record. This lecture highlights the lives and experiences of women across different periods and examines how their roles have evolved over time.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Michael Brumby is a prolific north Queensland historian with more than 36 digital, print and commissioned publications. A member of the Cairns Historical Society since 2022, he is the author of the sesquicentennial publication Cairns: A Tropical Town Takes Shape, to be launched in May 2026.

Dr Jan Wegner is a Far North Queensland–born historian and former senior lecturer at the Cairns campus of James Cook University. She now volunteers in the Cairns Historical Society’s Research Centre at the Cairns Museum.

Date

Location

Cairns Museum
93-105 Lake Street, Cairns QLD 4870

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