About Tanks Arts Centre
Tanks Arts Centre is a contemporary arts and cultural venue in Edge Hill, Cairns, Queensland, set within the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct. Housed in three converted World War II Royal Australian Navy oil storage tanks built in 1944, it operates as a gallery, performance space and creative hub managed by Cairns Regional Council. Notable for its adaptive reuse of wartime heritage structures, it hosts visual art exhibitions, live music, theatre and markets in a rainforest garden setting.
Visitors guide
Visitors can expect three large converted concrete oil tanks set among rainforest gardens within the Cairns Botanic Gardens precinct. Tank 1, 2 and 3 function as gallery and exhibition spaces with rotating contemporary visual art, while Tank 5 is a dedicated music and performance venue. The site includes outdoor garden areas, a cafe/bar, and spaces for markets, workshops and festivals. The experience combines heritage industrial architecture with curated art, live events and a tranquil botanic garden environment.
Key highlights
- 01
Three heritage-listed World War II oil storage tanks adaptively reused as gallery spaces
- 02
Rotating contemporary art exhibitions by local, national and international artists
- 03
Tank 5 live music and performance venue hosting concerts, theatre and comedy
- 04
Set within Cairns Botanic Gardens with rainforest gardens and outdoor areas
- 05
Regular markets, workshops, festivals and community cultural events
History of Tanks Arts Centre
Constructed in 1944 as part of a Royal Australian Navy fuel oil storage installation to support World War II operations in the Pacific. Three large concrete tanks were built on the slopes of Mount Whitfield to store fuel oil. Decommissioned after the war and later acquired by Cairns City Council, the tanks were converted and opened as the Tanks Arts Centre in 1995 as an adaptive reuse heritage project.
Culture & Context
Major contemporary arts hub for Far North Queensland operated by Cairns Regional Council. Serves as a centre for visual arts, music, theatre and community cultural development, supporting local artists and hosting touring exhibitions and performances. Its reuse of wartime infrastructure is a notable example of cultural heritage conservation in the region.