Cairns Convention Centre facts for kids
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The Snakepit
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The entrance of Cairns Convention Centre as viewed from Wharf Street (April 2019)
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| Location | Cnr Wharf & Sheridan Street, Cairns, Queensland, 4870 |
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| Coordinates | 16°55′39″S 145°46′40″E / 16.92750°S 145.77778°E |
| Owner | Government of Queensland |
| Operator | AEG Ogden |
| Capacity | 5,300 |
| Record attendance | 5,500 – 3 March 2004, Cairns Taipans vs Perth Wildcats NBL |
| Surface | various |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1995 |
| Opened | 26 June 1996 |
| Renovated | 2005, 2011 |
| Expanded | 1999 |
| Architect | Philip Cox & Partners |
| Tenants | |
| Cairns Taipans (NBL) (1999–present) | |
The Cairns Convention Centre is a big building in Cairns, Queensland, Australia. It's a place where many different events happen. People come here for meetings, shows, and sports games. It was even named the World's Best Congress Centre in 2004 and 2014!
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What is the Cairns Convention Centre?
The Cairns Convention Centre is a huge building. It covers an area of 31,000 square metres. This is about the size of five football fields! It's located right in the middle of Cairns. The centre is also very close to the Cairns International Airport. You can get there in just 10 minutes.
Inside the Centre
The centre has many different spaces for events. There is a large auditorium with 2,300 seats. This is perfect for big talks or performances. There is also an arena that can hold 5,000 people. This space is often used for sports games.
The centre also has a new plenary room. This room can fit 410 people. There are 23 smaller meeting rooms too. These rooms are great for smaller group discussions. The centre also has special equipment for sound and video. This makes sure every event looks and sounds great.
History of the Cairns Convention Centre
The Cairns Convention Centre is owned by the Queensland State Government. A company called AEG Ogden has managed it since 1994. The first part of the building opened on June 26, 1996.
Building Expansions and Upgrades
In 1999, a large hall was added. This hall can seat 5,300 people. It is used for many different events. The centre also had upgrades in 2005 and 2011. A big expansion started in 2020. This will add more meeting spaces and another floor. It is expected to be finished in 2022.
Australia's First Green Convention Centre
The Cairns Convention Centre was special when it opened. It was Australia's first convention centre outside a big city. It was also the first public building in Australia designed to be good for the environment. In its first year, it won an award for being the most environmentally friendly congress centre.
Sports at the Centre
The Cairns Convention Centre is a popular place for sports. It is the home of the Cairns Taipans basketball team. The Taipans play in the National Basketball League. They have played their home games here since 1999.
The Snakepit
When the Cairns Taipans play, the centre gets a special nickname. Fans call it "The Snakepit." This is a fun name for the team's home court.
Commonwealth Games Host
The centre also hosted a big international sports event. In April 2018, it held some men's basketball games. These were part of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The main games were held on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Important Events Hosted
The Cairns Convention Centre has hosted many important events. These events bring people from all over the world to Cairns.
Events in 2014
In 2014, the centre hosted the G20 Finance Ministers Meeting. This was a big meeting for world leaders. It also held the Australian Tourism Exchange conference. This was the first time this event was held in a regional city. Other events included a meeting about animal health and a conference about fish nutrition.
Events in 2015
In 2015, the centre hosted a Professional Bull Riding event. They even brought 300 tonnes of sand inside for it! It also held meetings for scientists and doctors. These included a World Congress on Larynx Cancer. The centre also hosted graduation ceremonies for James Cook University students.
Awards and Recognition
The Cairns Convention Centre has won many awards. These awards show that it is a top-quality venue.
World's Best Congress Centre
The centre won the "World's Best Congress Centre" award twice. It received this award in 2004 and again in 2014. This is a very important international award.
Other Awards
It has also won many Queensland Tourism Awards. It was even put into the Queensland Tourism Awards Hall of Fame. This happened after it won gold three years in a row (2013, 2014, and 2015). In 2011, it also received a Gold Certification for its quality standards.
Environmentally Friendly Features
The Cairns Convention Centre is designed to be kind to the environment. It has many features that help save energy and water.
Green Initiatives
- It collects rainwater to use.
- Water taps have special devices to save water.
- The roof is insulated and light-coloured. This helps keep the building cool.
- It uses solar panels to heat water.
- It has special window coverings called louvers. These help control sunlight and air.
The centre also has special certifications. These show that it meets high standards for quality and environmental care.
