False Cape Second World War Defence Facility

The False Cape gun emplacements are on an inaccessible site between Cairns and Yarrabah. False Cape had been named by Captain Cook in 1770. Following the establishment of Cairns in the mid-1870s, it became a popular recreation venue, although was only accessible by boat. False Cape was gazetted a pilot reserve in 1884. It was also used as an unofficial lazaret around 1889, and the bay to its west became known as Leper Bay. After this function ceased, the bay was renamed Sunny Bay. After the outbreak of WWII, defence facilities were constructed along the Queensland coast. During 1942-43 Cairns was the closest port to the war in the South Pacific. It became the base for the Royal Australian Navy, the United States Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force Catalina squadron. It was also a supply and service depot. False Cape was selected as the best site to monitor shipping in and out of Cairns, and a battery and observation post were established. It comprised two concrete gun emplacements, a battery observation post, an ammunition magazine, as well as search lights. The guns and searchlights were removed at the end of the war in August 1945.