ANZAC House and Cairns War Memorial

Cairns RSL Club

The brass nameplate of the World War II corvette, HMAS Cairns, now takes pride of place in the bar of the Cairns RSL Club. The club has had a long association with care and welfare of north Queensland’s ex-service men and women. Today the club building occupies a prime site on the city’s busy Esplanade overlooking Trinity Bay and the Cairns War Memorial. The memorial is linked to the front entrance of the RSL Club by a paved court.

Place information

Location

115 The Esplanade

Cairns, QLD 4870

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Place type

Recreation/community

History

Tower Villa, a private house on the Esplanade, was purchased in 1916 by the Cairns Welcome Home Committee as a rest home for troops returning from 'The Great War'. The Cairns sub-branch of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia (RSL) was formed locally two years later. The original house was moved to the rear of the block in 1937, and the current building erected. As Anzac House the RSL Club was popular with Australian servicemen as a source of beer rations during World War II. After the war it continued to operate as a licensed club until...

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