Cominos House

Cominos House is a late-19th-century Queenslander in Edge Hill, Cairns, with a strong connection to the city’s early families, businesses and community life. Originally built on the corner of Abbott and Florence Streets, the four-room house was home to the Street, Forbes and Cominos families before being moved to Greenslopes Street in 1988 and restored as a community centre.

The house offers more than a backdrop: it is a place centred on conservation, community arts and environmental organisations. Its design retains the defining features of a tropical Queenslander, including an elevated timber structure, a central corridor and deep verandas. Later alterations, such as enclosed verandas with timber louvres and coloured glass, reflect how the house changed to suit its occupants over time.

The Cominos name is closely tied to one of Cairns’ best-known former cafés. Established in 1906, Cominos Café became a major social meeting place, hosting functions and serving local residents, country visitors and Allied service staff during the Second World War. The family home also carried Greek cultural traditions, with Greek spoken in the household and music played during special occasions.

Cominos House suits visitors who enjoy local history, heritage buildings and community-led cultural spaces. It may also interest groups looking for a distinctive historic setting: the website notes that room bookings are available through its booking service from 1 July 2025. The site’s stated aims include conserving the house, promoting the Arts and Environment Centre and establishing a museum display focused on its former occupants and Cairns history.