It was designed by the Department of Public Works as part of the Queensland Government's unemployment relief program during the 1930s and was built using day labour during a period of pronounced construction in Cairns.

This commanding, three-storey brick building at the corner of Sheridan and Upward Streets is an important element in the city's streetscape.

Due to the standardisation of facilities, schools across the state were developed in distinctly similar ways and became complexes of typical components.

After 1908 the government expanded their provision of technical education, establishing new colleges in several centres, including Maryborough, Bundaberg, Rockhampton and Mackay.

Cairns Technical High School began teaching students from 28 January 1924 in new timber buildings on a large central site on Sheridan Street, officially opened 2 June 1925 by the Minister for Public Instruction, Thomas Wilson.

Factors contributing to prosperity in Far North Queensland, and increased building activity in Cairns, included: the Cairns hinterland Soldier Settlement Schemes of the 1920s; the continued success of the local sugar industry; the expansion of wharf facilities; ships bringing tourists from the southern states; the completion of the North Coast railway line to Brisbane in 1924; the opening of the Gilles Highway (1926) and the Captain Cook Highway (1933); the extensive re-building necessitated by cyclones in the 1920s; and the poor condition of earlier timber structures.

Important civic buildings were constructed, most in a Classical architectural style, intended to re-affirm the power and presence of government in the community.

The construction of these buildings by the Queensland Government reflected the confidence in the growth of Cairns as an important regional centre during the interwar period.

[1] The pattern of brick school buildings in prosperous or rising suburban areas that had begun in the early 1900s continued during the 1930s on a much larger scale.

The plan arrangement was similar to that of timber school buildings, being only one classroom deep, accessed by a long straight verandah.

Classrooms were commonly divided by folding timber partitions and the undercroft was used for covered play space, storage, toilets and other functions.

[10] The building was constructed using day labour and cost over £30,000[11] and was officially opened 5 February 1941 by Attorney General, John O'Keefe.

[1][15] The new building had two long, narrow wings forming an L-shape abutting the Sheridan and Upward Street boundaries, with a prominent central entry diagonally facing the intersection.

The entry had a round arched opening with giant order Ionic columns above, flanking a tall window into a stair hall.

[19] Because of these factors, Cairns Technical College and High School opened a month late in 1942, with a much-reduced student population.

[1][20] In 1946, memorial prizes were established at Cairns Technical College and High School in honour of past students killed in World War II.

Most often, honour boards for past students killed in war were hung in prominent locations on the walls of school buildings, through money raised from within the local community.

Over time, additional memorial boards were erected in the first floor foyer of the Cairns Technical College and High School building, recording the names of Dux winners, head prefects, and champion athletes.

Also, alterations to the Cairns Technical College and High School building were made, including enclosing part of the understorey for a tuckshop (1966), and an extension above the toilets of the Sheridan Street wing to accommodate home science classrooms (1972).

The addition of floors above one-storey toilets was an occurrence at other brick Depression-era schools and was possibly an intention of the original design, to accommodate future expansion.

As part of the Australian Government's Building Education Revolution (BER) program, Cairns State High School received funding for the construction of a new multi-purpose hall.

The BER program was the key element of the Australian Government's $42 billion "Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan", developed in response to the financial crisis of 2007–2008.

It is an imposing, brick and concrete structure with two equal wings abutting the street alignment and framing a large, grassed quadrangle behind.

[1] The building's strong street presence is derived from its assertive massing, grand proportions, symmetrical composition, and its cohesive, restrained use of a Neo-Classical style that references 17th Century Italian palazzo and Palladian idioms.

Verandahs run the length of the rear elevations giving access to the rooms and to concrete stairs at each end of the building.

[1] Cairns Technical College and High School Building was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 9 May 2014 having satisfied the following criteria.

[1] The place is important evidence of the interwar period of prosperity and growth in Cairns, the principal regional centre in far north Queensland.

Notable for its substantially intact exterior, the place is important in demonstrating the principal characteristics of a brick school building designed by the Department of Public Works during the 1930s.

The principal characteristics include having an expressive and skilful Neo-Classical styling, three-storeyed form, high-quality design, materials and construction, plan layout with north facing verandah, teacher's rooms, hat and cloak rooms, south facing classrooms that are well ventilated and day lit, and understorey play space.

The place is important for its aesthetic significance and has a dignified streetscape presence brought about by its assertive massing, Neo-Classical styling, and prominent corner location emphasised by an impressive and elegantly-composed facade.