St Therese's convent school in Edmonton rebuilt on its present site in Bentley Park.
Cairns City Council amalgamated with Mulgrave Shire.
A coffee plantation was started in Dimbulah.
New Labour Party leader Tony Blair addressed Rupert Murdoch and the leaders of News Corporation at Hayman Island, laying the groundwork for Murdoch's eventual support of the party in British parliamentary elections.
The first Australian Italian Festival was held in Ingham.
The Kuranda Skyrail Cableway opened. There had been concern about the impact on the world heritage environment, so construction involved the use of helicopters and foot tracks without the use of additional forest roads.
Major repairs had to be carried out after a severe rock fall damaged the Cairns to Kuranda railway track.