# Smithfield, Queensland

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Smithfield is a suburb of Cairns in the Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, Smithfield had a population of 6,664 people.

## Geography

Smithfield is about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the north of Cairns City, Queensland, Australia. The Captain Cook Highway passes through Smithfield and the Kuranda Range Road (the first section of the Kennedy Highway) branches from the Captain Cook Highway at Smithfield.

## History

Irukandji (also known as Yirrgay, Yurrgay, Yirrgandji, Djabuganjdji and Yirgay) is a language of Far North Queensland, particularly the area around the Kuranda Range and Lower Barron River. The Irukandji language region includes the Cairns Region.
Smithfield was first established in 1876, and was a rival for dominance of the area to Cairns at that time. It was named in honour of prospector and explorer, William "Bill" Smith, who had a camp at this place. On Boxing Day 1877, Bill Smith added further notoriety to the town named after him by murdering a man and then shooting himself in the main street. After a devastating flooding of the Barron River on which the settlement was situated during a cyclone in March 1879, the original site was abandoned.
Smithfield Provisional School opened on 7 May 1900. On 1 January 1909, it became Smithfield State School. It closed in 1964.
Smithfield State High School opened on 24 January 1983.
Smithfield library opened in 1998 and underwent a major refurbishment in 2008.

## Demographics

In the 2011 census, Smithfield had a population of 3,707 people.
In the 2016 census, Smithfield had a population of 5,303 people.
In the 2021 census, Smithfield had a population of 6,664 people.

## Education

Smithfield State High School is a government secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls at O'Brien Road (16°48′43″S 145°41′44″E﻿ / ﻿16.8119°S 145.6956°E﻿ / -16.8119; 145.6956﻿ (Smithfield State High School)). In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 1,122 students with 99 teachers (96 full-time equivalent) and 48 non-teaching staff (37 full-time equivalent). It includes a special education program.
There are no primary schools in Smithfield. The nearest government primary schools are Carvonica State School in neighbouring Carvonica to the south, Trinity Beach State School in neighbouring Trinity Beach to the north and Yorkeys Knob State School at neighbouring Yorkeys Knob to the east.
The Cairns Campus of James Cook University is in Smithfield (16°48′58″S 145°41′12″E﻿ / ﻿16.8162°S 145.6867°E﻿ / -16.8162; 145.6867﻿ (James Cook University)).

## Facilities

Smithfield Police Station is at 1119 Captain Cook Highway (16°49′24″S 145°41′31″E﻿ / ﻿16.8233°S 145.6920°E﻿ / -16.8233; 145.6920﻿ (Smithfield Police Station)).
Smithfield Fire Station is a 21 Salvado Drive (16°49′58″S 145°41′41″E﻿ / ﻿16.8328°S 145.6947°E﻿ / -16.8328; 145.6947﻿ (Smithfield Fire Station)).
Smithfield Ambulance Station is at 1 Stanton Road (16°49′54″S 145°41′33″E﻿ / ﻿16.8318°S 145.6926°E﻿ / -16.8318; 145.6926﻿ (Smithfield Ambulance Station)).
Smithfield Community Health Centre is at 16 Danbulan Street (16°50′15″S 145°41′44″E﻿ / ﻿16.8376°S 145.6956°E﻿ / -16.8376; 145.6956﻿ (health centre)).
The Animal Protection Society is at 233-239 Mcgregor Road (16°49′24″S 145°42′22″E﻿ / ﻿16.8232°S 145.7062°E﻿ / -16.8232; 145.7062﻿ (Animal Protection Society)).

## Amenities

Cairns Regional Council operates a library at 70 Cheviot Street (16°48′53″S 145°41′39″E﻿ / ﻿16.8148°S 145.6943°E﻿ / -16.8148; 145.6943﻿ (Smithfield Public Library)).
The Smithfield branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association meets at the CWA Hall on Kamerunga Road, Caravonica (16°51′05″S 145°41′44″E﻿ / ﻿16.8514°S 145.6955°E﻿ / -16.8514; 145.6955﻿ (Smithfield Country Women's Association Hall)). It is between the Caravonica State School and the Australian Armour and Artillery Museum.
Smithfield Shopping Centre is at 150 Captain Cook Highway (16°50′10″S 145°41′31″E﻿ / ﻿16.8362°S 145.6920°E﻿ / -16.8362; 145.6920﻿ (Smithfield Shopping Centre)). The Smithfield Post Office is within the shopping centre (16°50′09″S 145°41′31″E﻿ / ﻿16.8359°S 145.6920°E﻿ / -16.8359; 145.6920﻿ (Smithfield Post Office)).
Northern Cairns Uniting Church is at 47 Cheviot Street (16°49′03″S 145°41′37″E﻿ / ﻿16.8176°S 145.6937°E﻿ / -16.8176; 145.6937﻿ (place of worship)).
On Leisure Park Road, there are a number of community facilities including Marlin Coast Recreation Centre (16°48′52″S 145°41′44″E﻿ / ﻿16.8144°S 145.6955°E﻿ / -16.8144; 145.6955﻿ (Marlin Coast Recreation Centre)), Marlin Coast Swimming and Fitness Centre (16°48′52″S 145°41′44″E﻿ / ﻿16.8144°S 145.6956°E﻿ / -16.8144; 145.6956﻿ (Marlin Coast Swimming and Fitness Centre)), North Queensland Surf Lifesaving (16°48′58″S 145°41′49″E﻿ / ﻿16.8161°S 145.6970°E﻿ / -16.8161; 145.6970﻿ (North Queensland Surf Lifesaving)), and Ivanhoes Rugby League Club (16°48′55″S 145°41′52″E﻿ / ﻿16.8153°S 145.6977°E﻿ / -16.8153; 145.6977﻿ (Ivanhoes Rugby League Club)).
Campus Village is a shopping centre on Faculty Close (16°49′15″S 145°41′40″E﻿ / ﻿16.8207°S 145.6944°E﻿ / -16.8207; 145.6944﻿ (Campus Village)) across the Captain Cook Highway from the James Cook University campus.

## Attractions

The lower terminal of the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is at 6 Skyrail Drive (16°50′52″S 145°41′41″E﻿ / ﻿16.8478°S 145.6947°E﻿ / -16.8478; 145.6947﻿ (Skyrail Rainforest Cableway terminal)). The cableway takes visitors through the rainforest of the Barron Gorge National Park to Kuranda at the top of the Great Dividing Range.
Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park was at 4 Skyrail Drive (16°50′58″S 145°41′34″E﻿ / ﻿16.8494°S 145.6928°E﻿ / -16.8494; 145.6928﻿ (Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park)). The park demonstrated the authentic culture and traditions of the local Djabugay people. The Tjapukai park closed down in January 2021.
The Australian Armour and Artillery Museum is at 2 Skyrail Drive (16°51′01″S 145°41′43″E﻿ / ﻿16.8502°S 145.6952°E﻿ / -16.8502; 145.6952﻿ (Australian Armour And Artillery Museum)). It claims to have the largest collection of armoured vehicles and artillery in the Southern Hemisphere.