City symbols

Logo

The Cairns Regional Council logo was adopted in 2008, following the amalgamation of Cairns City Council and Douglas Shire Council (which subsequently de-amalgamated in 2014).

The design features the leaf structure of the Queensland Fan Palm, Licuala ramsayii, which is endemic to lowland rainforests of north east Queensland. The range of this palm covers the entire footprint of the Cairns Regional Council.

The logo is a direct artistic translation combining several ideas generated by community members at a logo development workshop in 2008. Workshop participants voiced a very strong desire for the logo to express residents' connection to our natural environment, our warm and festive culture, and our community spirit.

The green upper leaf represents the mountain range and rainforest clad coastline
The lower blue leaf elements represent the ocean, the reef and the community’s connection with both elements of nature.
The dynamic splash at the heart of the leaf design represents the festive spirit of the Cairns regional community.

Crest

The crest is the official symbol of the Council. It is used for ceremonial applications, such as the Council Chambers and official City documents such as international agreements and civic events.

The crest is sometimes referred to as a coat of arms, but this is a misnomer.

The crest’s colours are gold, blue and green. The crest features:

picks and shovels, symbolising the historical significance of mining to the region (left)
stylised bales of commerce and industry (centre)
sugar cane (right)
foliage depicting the region’s diverse range of flora
ribbons of water for the city’s close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef
a sun burst for the tropics