Repairs mean ‘marlin clock’ is right on time
A GENTLE nudge from the Cairns Post has turned the gears and set right a public timepiece that had been out of whack for years.
The city’s silver “marlin clock” on Abbott St has somehow escaped Cairns Regional Council’s attention despite its central location and towering stature.
Division 5 councillor Richie Bates suggested it had probably escaped the attention of the general public as well, with many residents unaware of its presence.
“I don’t think it’s the kind of landmark that people really notice or pay a lot of attention to,” he said.
“That may be because it hasn’t been an accurate timepiece.
“Even when doing the Shields St Heart project, it wasn’t something that really came up in conversation – do we save it?
“I think it’s probably time, pardon the pun, to have a look at it.”
The Cairns Post donated the clock to the city of Cairns in 1982 to mark 100 years of the newspaper’s publication.
It was keeping time of some sort – it was just the wrong time.
Yesterday, at 1pm it was running three hours slow but by 3pm, after inquiries were made, it appeared to be restored to full temporal health.
Cr Bates said it was now a waiting game to see if the clock was punctual or further maintenance would be needed.
“It may need a new mechanism,” he said.
Another issue grating at CBD traders is a sign at the corner of Abbott and Shields streets that directs pedestrians in the wrong direction.
Frydays Fish and Chippery owner Gayle Allen said she had written to the council several times to alert them to the problem, which says Abbott St is Shields St and vice versa.
“I’ve even pointed it out to security, asking them to let somebody know,” she said.
“It’s been like that for three months. Tourists are getting lost all the time.”
Cr Bates said he would ask council crews to fix the issue.
“The signs on that corner seem to suffer a lot from vandalism and pranks – we’ve had issues in the past,” he said.
“That location is a bit of a target for vandals and pranksters so it’s good to have business owners who are vigilant to these things.”
I DON’T THINK IT’S THE KIND OF LANDMARK THAT PEOPLE REALLY NOTICE OR PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO … DO WE SAVE IT CR RICHIE BATES ON THE ABBOTT ST “MARLIN CLOCK”