New Murals Transform Cairns CBD Overnight, Drawing Crowds to Laneways

Three large murals completed on buildings along Lake Street in the past fortnight have drawn daily crowds to the Cairns CBD, with one piece covering 40 square metres of brickwork at the rear of the Cairns Central shopping complex.

The timing aligns with the city’s post-winter visitor rebound and the Cairns Regional Council’s decision to release leftover 2025-26 arts funds for quick-turnaround projects before the end of July.

Installations at Named Sites

One mural at the corner of Abbott and Spence streets depicts local reef species and was finished by a team working with the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair organisation. Another at Munro Martin Parklands on Sheridan Street shows layered rainforest motifs and was supported through the council’s laneway activation program. Both sites sit within a short walk of the Esplanade, allowing visitors already on the waterfront promenade to extend their route without extra transport.

Council records show $87,000 spent on the current round, covering materials, artist fees and lighting for the Spence Street piece. Fifteen earlier murals installed since March 2025 now form an informal walking route promoted on the council’s website, with the newest additions bringing the total to eighteen. A free self-guided map updated on 10 July lists opening hours for adjacent cafes that stay open later on Thursday nights.

Residents can view the works during daylight hours or join the next organised evening walk scheduled for 25 July, details posted on the Cairns Regional Council arts page.