Cairns is moving closer to opening a major new community hub designed to reflect the region’s growing cultural diversity, with construction of the Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre at White Rock set to begin in September 2026.

While the project has received $4 million in Australian Government funding, the latest council documents put the overall project budget at almost $10.6 million, with about $9.975 million allocated in the 2026–27 Capital Works Program.

The centre has been more than a decade in the making. Local councillor Cathy Zeiger said the community had been advocating for the facility for nearly 12 years, turning what was once a long-term vision into a funded infrastructure project.

And the investment comes against a clear demographic backdrop.

According to 2021 Census data, 22.3% of people in the broader Cairns region were born overseas, while the figure was 26.2% in Cairns City. Across Australia, 27.6% of residents were born overseas, highlighting the scale of cultural diversity nationwide.

The new White Rock centre will include a large multipurpose hall, meeting rooms, commercial kitchen, foyer space for art and cultural displays and an outdoor gathering area. It is intended to support cultural events, community meetings, classes, social activities and opportunities for different communities to connect.

The project is also being developed alongside a new sports field on adjacent land, potentially creating a broader community precinct.

For Cairns, the significance goes beyond constructing another building. The centre represents an investment in the infrastructure of multicultural community life — creating a permanent space where cultures can be celebrated, organisations can collaborate and different generations can connect.

Construction is scheduled to commence in September 2026, with completion expected in late 2027.