“Cairns — North Queensland” — Australian Airlines
Vintage Travel Poster (c.1950)
Clear, luminous, and irresistibly inviting, this elegant reproduction of Cairns — North Queensland captures the region at the moment it entered the modern travel imagination. Produced around 1950 for Australian Airlines, the poster presents Cairns as the gateway to a tropical world—where coral reefs, island seas, and warm skies meet just beyond the shoreline.
Above the water, a low island rests under pale blue sky; below, reef fish glide through a garden of coral—two worlds united by flight.
North Queensland, revealed from above and below.
✈️ Iconic Imagery from the Jet-Age of Travel
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A tranquil reef cross-section, linking island horizons with underwater life
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Tropical fish drifting through coral gardens in jewel-like colour
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A calm island silhouette floating on a glassy sea
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Clean, modern composition emphasising clarity, depth, and escape
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Refined airline typography announcing CAIRNS — NORTH QUEENSLAND
📐 Size Options
| Format | Dimensions (H × W) |
|---|---|
| Standard | 740 mm × 470 mm |
Original proportions preserved. Custom sizing available on request.
🎨 Premium Format Options
📄 Paper — Printed on heavyweight 170 gsm coated paper; smooth, crisp, and ideal for framing under glass.
🧽 Laminated — True encapsulation using 2 × 80-micron gloss laminate; exceptionally durable and wipe-clean.
🪵 Laminated + Wooden Hang Rails — Natural timber rails with discreet hanging cord; ready to display straight away.
🖼️ Canvas — 395 gsm HP Professional Matte Canvas, printed with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks for rich texture and archival longevity.
🪵 Canvas + Wooden Hang Rails — Premium canvas presentation with timber rails top and bottom; effortless, elegant wall hanging.
⏳ Please allow up to 10 working days for hang-railed finishes, as each is carefully assembled by our professional framer.
🎁 Ideal For
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Collectors of Australian airline and travel posters
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Great Barrier Reef and North Queensland enthusiasts
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Coastal, tropical, and mid-century modern interiors
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Living spaces, studies, holiday homes, and gallery walls
🌍 A Poster That Tells a Story
As commercial aviation expanded after the war, Australian Airlines positioned Cairns as Australia’s tropical threshold—a place where reef, rainforest, and sea converged. Posters like this framed travel as revelation: effortless flight opening access to colour, warmth, and natural wonder.
Cairns was not just a destination—it was an invitation to explore beneath the surface.
🖼️ Display with Pride
Whether framed, laminated for everyday durability, or presented on canvas with elegant timber hang rails, this poster brings clarity, colour, and classic North Queensland allure into any space.
Fresh. Tropical. Timeless.
