Cairns (/ˈkɛərnz/, locally /ˈkænz/), is a regional city, founded in 1876, encompassing smaller townships in the far north of Queensland, Australia. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was discovered from Port Douglas. It later developed into a railhead and major port for exporting sugar cane, gold and other metals, minerals and agricultural products from surrounding coastal areas and the Atherton Tableland region.