A drive-in shopping centre, Kamerunga, built in Lake Placid Road behind Cairns.
Catholic education authorities opened a secondary college adjoining St Anthony's primary school in Deeragun.
A master plan was published for improvement and redevelopment of Centenary Lakes reserve and a cultural centre in Edge Hill. Three of the RAN fuel tanks were refurbished for arts and exhibition purposes.
Herberton mining museum opens.
North Queensland's first community bank opens in Home Hill.
Nim's Island movie was partly filmed on Hinchinbrook Island.
The annual John Moffat festival was revived in Irvinebank, coinciding with the opening of the John Moffat gardens on Gibbs Creek.
A war memorial was built at Iron Range.
Mackay City Council turned its attention to inner city revitalisation, beginning with the river and wharves.
May
7 A Fairchild Aircraft SA227-DC Metro 23 aircraft, with two pilots and 13 passengers, was being operated by Transair on an instrument flight from Bamaga to Cairns, with an intermediate stop at Lockhart Rivercrashed on a heavily timbered ridge in the Iron Range National Park approximately 11 km north-west of the Lockhart River aerodrome. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact forces and an intense fire. There were no survivors.