Queensland State Archives posted a photo:
The existing, heritage-listed Cairns Court House, built from 1919 to 1921, was the third court house erected in Cairns. An 1878 marine survey of Cairns harbour indicated that the first court house was located on the customs reserve, and may have shared the same premises as the first customs house. This probably was the temporary court house erected by the Works Department in Cairns in December 1877.
The ‘temporary’ court house remained in use for several years, but was replaced during the second phase of Cairns’ development. In 1883 the Works Department prepared plans for a more substantial timber court house, which was erected in 1884 on the Esplanade. At the time it was considered to be very fine, the best erected building in Cairns, both in so far as appearance and design as well as in construction.
By 1890, however, the local court had outgrown its