The Court House Art Gallery, established in the historic Cairns Court House, opened its doors in February 2021 and is set to host an exciting series of art events and exhibitions each year.
wildPLAN undertook the role of Assessment Manager for and on behalf of Cairns Regional Council in the assessment of the development application for Material Change of Use (Community Use), Operational Work and Building Work (on a Heritage Place).
wildPLAN recommended approval of the historic revitalisation project, which allowed for the adaptive re-use of the iconic building to host and display dynamic art experiences, as an extension of the Cairns Art Gallery.
On 25 September 2019, Cairns Regional Council endorsed the wildPLAN recommendation and decided to approve the revitalisation of the State Heritage and Local Heritage listed Cairns Court House.
The revitalisation project included the careful restoration of the Coat of Arms above the main entrance to the building, which depicts a lion and a chained unicorn, and retention of historic building markings. The gallery also showcases historic objects, including ceramic and glass artefacts, unearthed during construction works.
The Court House Art Gallery complements a suite of recent public works projects (including the Cairns Performing Arts Centre (CPAC) and Munro Martin Parklands) undertaken by Cairns Regional Council, contributing to a vibrant and award-winning local arts and cultural precinct.
