‘Reimagined’ Cairns city Anglicare building planned for Lake St
To coincide with centenary celebrations of a landmark Lake St place of worship, a Far North church has unveiled a bold new vision for a modern community care and social services hub.
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To coincide with centenary celebrations of a landmark Lake St place of worship, a Far North church has unveiled a bold new vision for a modern community care and social services hub.
Landowners of the 2530 sq m block, the Corporation of the Diocesan Synod of North Queensland, have applied for Cairns Regional Council permission to demolish existing Anglicare offices at 179 Lake St to make way for a new three-storey building designed by CA Architects.
In 2026 Saint John the Evangelist Anglican Church will celebrate 100 years since it was inaugurated.
Construction of a more resilient building began in 1926 and finished in 1927, following the destruction by cyclone in 1920 of the original Anglican Church at the present day site of the Cairns City Library.
Built in a Romanesque style and designed by notable Cairns architect Richard Hill, no changes are planned for the existing church which has been included in a Cairns Regional Council statement of cultural significance.
Three material change of use development permits are sought for a health care service, an office and a community care centre.
“The office component is located on the ground floor and first floor,” the application reads.
“The second floor will be used interchangeably for the office, health care service and community care centre.”
A range of services, including housing and homelessness, youth support services, education and training as well as non-family-based residential care diversionary support services will be run from the new building.
The proposed shift in use of the site is considered impact assessable meaning public notification is required.
According to the development application the project is intended to be delivered in time for the church’s 100th anniversary festivities.
“These celebrations present an opportunity to reimagine the buildings that frame the church and diversify the utilisation of the site, to provide ongoing and vital community support services delivered by Anglicare North Queensland,” the application states.
In a statement the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland stated the application aligns with CairnsPlan 2016 v3.1 and seeks to enhance the services provided by Anglicare North Queensland.
Originally published as ‘Reimagined’ Cairns city Anglicare building planned for Lake St
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