The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) fuel installation at Edge Hill was constructed in 1943 in response to the increased military presence in Cairns associated with the Pacific war effort. The installation once comprised five large fuel storage tanks (Tanks 1-2 in steel, 3-5 in concrete) earth and concrete bunds around the tanks, two pump houses, two foam tanks, a fire station (garage) and an underground pipeline from the tanks to Cairns wharves. Tank 1 and the fire station have since been demolished.

The former fuel installation is located 5 kilometres north of the original port of Cairns, built into the southern side of Mt Islay. Tank 2, a pump house, a concrete bund and remnants of the walls of Tank 1 are located north of Collins Avenue near the eastern entrance to the Flecker Botanical Gardens. A foam tank, of pressed metal with a flat galvanised iron roof, is located opposite on the south side of Collins Avenue. Tanks 3, 4 and 5 are located north of Collins Avenue approximately 500 metres to the west and have been adaptively re-used as the Tanks Arts Centre. Nearby are a 1.5m high concrete bund, a foam tank and a pump house.