[4] On 11 January 1939 at the Lands Office in Cairns the Queensland Government auctioned 11 town lots of between 30 and 39 perches (760 and 990 m2) between Little Street and the cemetery.

moved to premises at the Cairns Seventh Day Adventist Church at 302 Gatton Street, Manunda.

On 27 October 2014, the school moved to purpose-built premises in Gordonvale and was renamed Cairns Adventist College.

[6][10] Cairns West State School opened on 28 January 1964 with an initial enrolment of 211 students.

[6] However, its official opening by Education Minister Jack Pizzey did not take place until 6 February 1965.

It was located at the Cairns Base of the Royal Flying Doctor Service at Edge Hill.

The opening of Schools of the Air in Charters Towers and Longreach reduced the number of remote students being supported from Cairns, but the school's role was expanded to support itinerant students (e.g. children of seasonal workers, carnival workers, etc.).

In 1993, the school moved to a purpose-built facility in Hoare Street, Manunda, and by 1995 had expanded its services to support pre-school students (Prep year not having been introduced in Queensland by that time) and secondary students to Year 10, later[when?]

It also supports students who are overseas, travelling, or unable to attend local schools for medical reasons.

[22][28] It is one of the Positive Learning Centres aimed at individually-tailored approaches to re-engage with children disengaged from schooling.

[22][32] Cairns Regional Council operates a library service in Manunda, located in the Raintrees shopping Centre.

[33] St Francis Xavier Catholic Church is on the corner of Atkinson and Mayer Streets.