Cairns, located in Queensland, Australia, was once home to the Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway, a private tram line built between 1897 and 1898 to serve the Mulgrave Central Sugar Mill, which had been constructed in 1895. The tramway was the first public tramway in Australia to be constructed and operated by a local authority, making it a significant part of the country's history.
The Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway traversed difficult terrain, including dense jungle, and covered a distance of 31 miles (50 km) with a track gauge of 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm). The line was built by the Cairns Divisional Board, which was later renamed the Cairns Shire Council. The total cost of the board's rolling stock in use by June 30, 1898, was £2,879 8s. 8d., equal to £206 11s. per mile open.
Today, the Cairns-Mulgrave Tramway no longer operates, but visitors to the area can still experience the region's rich history and natural beauty in other ways.