Smithfield

Smithfield is a suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia.

Smithfield is a suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census Smithfield had a population of 5,303 people.

Irukandji (also known as Yirrgay, Yurrgay, Yirrgandji, Djabuganjdji and Yirgay) is a language of Far North Queensland, particularly the area around the Kuranda Range and Lower Barron River. The Irukandji language region includes the Cairns Region.Smithfield was first established in 1876, and was a rival for dominance of the area to Cairns at that time. It was named in honour of prospector and explorer, William "Bill" Smith, who had a camp at this place. On Boxing Day 1877, Bill Smith added further notoriety to the town named after him by murdering a man and then shooting himself in the main street. After a devastating flooding of the Barron River on which the settlement was situated during a cyclone in March 1879, the original site was abandoned.It is now a suburb of Cairns, and is the business and trade centre of the Cairns 'Northern Beaches'.

Smithfield Provisional School opened on 7 May 1900. On 1 January 1909 it became Smithfield State School. It closed in 1964.Smithfield State High School opened on 24 January 1983.Smithfield library opened in 1998 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2008.At the 2011 census the suburb recorded a population of 3,707.In the 2016 census Smithfield had a population of 5,303 people.

The lower terminal of the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is at 6 Skyrail Drive (16.8478°S 145.6947°E? / -16.8478; 145.6947? (Skyrail Rainforest Cableway terminal)). The cableway takes visitors through the rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park to Kuranda at the top of the Great Dividing Range.Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park was at 4 Skyrail Drive (16.8494°S 145.6928°E? / -16.8494; 145.6928? (Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park)). The park demonstrated the authentic culture and traditions of the local Djabugay people. The Tjapukai park closed down in January 2021.

The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum is at 2 Skyrail Drive (16.8502°S 145.6952°E? / -16.8502; 145.6952? (Australian Armour And Artillery Museum)). It claims to have the largest collection of armoured vehicles and artillery in the Southern Hemisphere.