The first local government of Cairns, the Cairns Divisional Board, was established in 1879. Since then there have been amalgamations and deamalgamations. Below is a short history of the Cairns Regional Council.
1879: Cairns Divisional Board formed
1885: Cairns Divisional Board divided into Divisional Board and Cairns Municipal Council
Cairns Divisional Board
1902: Cairns Divisional Board becomes Cairns Shire Council
1940: Cairns Shire Council becomes Mulgrave Shire Council
1995: Mulgrave Shire Council merges with Cairns City Council
Cairns Municipal Council
1923: Cairns Municipal Council becomes Cairns City Council
Cairns Regional Council
2008: formed from the amalgamation of Cairns City Council and Douglas Shire Council
2014: Douglas Shire reforms after deamalgamation with Cairns Regional Council
