Junior campus of Townsville Grammar School opens in Annandale.
First stage of the Bentley Park P-12 College opened. Further stages followed until 2004.
Borthwicks meatworks at Merinda closed.
Neglect of central city retailing in Cairns corrected by the opening of Cairns Central Shopping Centre, adjoining the railway station, with over 180 outlets including a department store, discount department stores and supermarkets.
Cairns Convention Centre opens.
Greenvale nickel mine closed and railway line between Yabulu and Greenvale was dismantled.
Northern Beaches State High School was opened in Deeragun.
Mackay Sugar committed $14 million to extensive upgrading of the Farleigh rail line to eliminate several kilometres of steep grades. The upgraded line delivered increased tonnages, transport cost savings and scheduling flexibility to the mill.
Brampton Island sold to P&O Resorts. Three million dollars was spent on a major refurbishment before it was purchased by Voyages.
The Willows State School opens.
Arts Centre opened in Lockhart Rver.
December
The first Native Title Determination on mainland Australia declared by the Federal Court to the Guugu Yimithirr people. The Native Title determination conveyed 110,000 ha of land to the Warra people of the Hope Vale, including Cape Flattery where Mitsubishi has mined high quality silica since 1967. Royalties go to the Hope Vale Community Council.
24 Dunk Island bought by P&O Australian Resorts.