The Cassowary Coast Region is a local government area in the Far North Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, south of Cairns and centred on the towns of Innisfail, Cardwell and Tully.

[1] Prior to the 2008 amalgamation, the Cassowary Coast Region consisted of the entire area of two previous local government areas: The Hinchinbrook Division was created on 11 November 1879 as one of 74 divisions around Queensland under the Divisional Boards Act 1879.

[3] With the passage of the Local Authorities Act 1902, both Cardwell and Johnstone became shires on 31 March 1903.

In July 2007, the Local Government Reform Commission released its report and recommended that Cardwell and Johnstone merge.

Cardwell was in particular opposed because Johnstone was rated as "financially distressed" and its council had just been sacked by the state government.