56's Olympic Torch Bearers Monument, Cairns

The 1956 Olympic Torch Bearers Monument in Cairns serves as a historical marker, celebrating the iconic Olympic Torch Relay that ran from Cairns to Melbourne from November 9 to November 22, 1956. This monument particularly honors the Mackay to Rockhampton segment of the relay, a crucial yet lesser-known part of the route. In the early 2000s, a group of five torchbearers from the 1956 relay representing Mackay, Rockhampton, and Townsville gathered to acknowledge the exceptional efforts of the Mackay and Rockhampton relay runners and the community's voluntary support. Their discussions led to the creation of the monument, a collaborative effort of the Mackay City, Broadsound Shire, and Rockhampton City Councils. They crafted and placed a large, mounted 1956 Olympic Torch at Croydon Station, close to the handover point from Mackay to Rockhampton.

This monument also commemorates the broader challenges of the 1956 Olympic Torch Relay, a part of Australia's post-World War II history. The relay, starting in Cairns, presented runners with diverse and difficult conditions, including severe weather, rough terrains, and strict timelines set by officials in Melbourne. The Mackay to Rockhampton leg faced a unique challenge when heavy rain in the Saint Lawrence region forced a change in the route, adding an extra 36 kilometers. Despite this, the runners accelerated their pace to maintain the schedule, successfully keeping the relay on track by the time they reached Marlborough. This effort exemplifies the determination and spirit of the 1956 Olympic Torch Relay participants.