Cairns Art Gallery, Court House Building

Cairns Art Gallery’s Court House Building offers a free-entry visit centred on changing exhibitions, public programs and the visual culture of Far North Queensland. The gallery presents art of national and international significance while creating space for cross-cultural dialogue and interpretation of the region’s history, living cultures and place in the tropics. Visitors can browse exhibitions, attend events and classes, join a group tour, visit the shop or check the gallery’s cafe offering.

The Court House Building is part of a broader gallery setting that brings contemporary presentation together with heritage architecture. The main gallery building began life as a government facility designed by R.C. Nowland, with construction completed in 1936. When it was converted into an art gallery in the 1990s, original details including terrazzo flooring, polished local timber panelling, stained-glass windows and iron balustrades were retained. The result is a substantial, character-filled setting across three floors, supported by museum-standard lighting, security and climate control.

The exhibition program includes a strong focus on artists and stories connected with the region. A standout example is Philomena Yeatman: Babim, Muudjum, Djanguul, presented in the Court House Building. Yeatman is a Gunggandji artist from Yarrabah and a recognised weaver and cultural custodian. The exhibition brings traditional weaving knowledge into large contemporary sculptural works, using materials including lawyer cane, pandanus, clay and ochre. Its themes of maternal connection, cultural transmission and intergenerational knowledge give the display a clear connection to Country, family and community.

The gallery’s wider listings include exhibitions such as Woven Together: Undivided We Rise, Spirits in the Ink and Brush: Women Painters, alongside artist talks, poetry events and creative learning. The website also lists an eight-week comic book and manga course for people aged 12 and over, covering storyboarding, drawing, inking, colour and lettering. That makes the venue relevant not only to exhibition-goers, but also to young artists, learners and visitors looking for a structured cultural activity. For people visiting Edge Hill and the wider Cairns area, it offers a considered way to spend time with regional, First Nations and contemporary art in a historic gallery environment. Entry is free, and the website states that bookings are not required for general visits.