How it all began

• 1955 In late July – Frank Vains and Bruce Mourden put an article in the Cairns Post (where they worked) to ask anyone that was interested in a game of Aussie Rules footy to be at the North Cairns Reserve (now the Cairns Hockey Fields) on the Saturday afternoon.
• 5th August “First meeting of the Cairns Australian Football League (CAFL), a committee was formed (including Kevin Crathern ) and Bruce Mourden was appointed Secretary of the league and Kevin Crathern was appointed as the first A grade coach. The Cairns team played games again visiting navy ships and RAAF players at the council grounds in North Cairns. 1956 Kevin Crathern became the Vice President of the league. The block of land (mangroves) on Mulgrave selected as the new CAFL ground could either be purchased by the CAFL or the Australian National Football Council could purchase the land and the CAFL would have to do the work of clearing the land of trees, filling in the dense bushlands and turning it into a suitable playing field. The CAFL decided to do the hard work of clearing the land lead by Kevin Crathern (as President of the CAFL 1957-1974) as it was the only way to go. It was a big job for many working bees consisting of a small band of keen workers doing something for the game they loved and getting the game on the map in Cairns, which was dominated by the sport of Rugby League.
• 1973  CAFL Social Club was granted a liquor licence.
• 1974  Jim Barlow introduced Reg Lillywhite to the CAFL Social Club.
• 1975  December, Reg Lillywhite was elected president of the CAFL Social Club. 12 months later Reg Lillywhite was elected president of CAFL (now AFL Cairns), a position he held until 1989.
• 1983 – 84 One of the most significant things were Reg Lillywhite and Jim Barlow convincing the committee to commit to building a new function room attached to the existing social club, known as Cazalys.
• 1984  The only stream of revenue was hosting functions, weddings and bingo at Cazalys, to fund the 4 teams competing at the time.
• 1984-85  Reg Lillywhite and Allen Aylett negotiated with the National Football League to purchase the freehold of Australian Football Park.
• 1985  Reg Lillywhite was granted Cazalys Social Club life membership for his achievements.
• 1992  Introduction of Cazalys first 22 poker machines, which saw a significant rise in cash flow for the Club.
• 1993-94  Final payment was made on Australian Football Park, Cazalys.
• 1992-95 $500 000 was spent on upgrading the Social Club and extensions. $1M was spent on the grounds.
• 1994   A major 10 year sponsorship of $100 000 went to the ‘Brisbane Bears’.
• 1997-98  AFL Cairns acquired the western grandstand from the Gabba and it was relocated to Australian Football Park. $2.4M was spent on the infrastructure.
• 1998  Four light towers were erected boasting a 1000-lux. Official turn-on of lights 11th November 1998.
• 1999  CAFL purchased the 51st battalion barracks housing property adjacent to grounds, now known as AFL House. Additional instrumental purchases in the late 90’s include The Goodyear & Sigi Graf building’s and other strategic housing properties surrounding Australian Football Park.
• 2001- 2003  Cazalys stadium was official sponsored by Bundaberg Rum, and named ‘Bundaberg Rum Stadium’.
• 2002-2005  Over $4M spent on Cazalys social club construction and renovations, which now hosts: 600-seat Function Room, now known as ‘The Allen Aylett Room’. New Sportsmans’ Bar overlooking the playing surface TAB and Sportsbet facilities , Lounge Bar , 280 Poker Machines Members Bottle Shop. Barassi’s Restaurant & Coffee Shop
• 2008  Over $2.1M spent on Cazalys stadium upgrade. Including lighting to AFL television standards and new entrance gates on Till street.
• 2010  July -Deputy PrimeMinister Wayne Swan pledged 3M government handout to kickstart the redevelopment of Cazalys stadium.
• 2011 15M Stadium redeveloment completed included new grandstand and players facilities, media box and upgraded lighting.
• July 16 2011 Inauguaral AFL premiership game between Richmond and Gold Coast Suns. Cairns will host for 3 matches over 3 years
• Dec 8 2011 Construction of Twin light towers started today,opening up a wealth of opportunities
• 2012  Cazalys Wins Queensland Club of the Year . The top prize completed a hat trick of awards for Cazalys on the night, after wins in the Best Football Club 2012, and Best Club FNQ.
• July 12th 2013 Cazalys completes 6.5M expansion. Premises were extended by 1800sq m. Expansion included a state-of-the-art children’s entertainment area , new kitchen and cafe, and a refurbished gaming lounge. The expansion was officially opened on the 12th July 2013 by Allen Alyett
• March 11th 2014 Cazalys wins The Best Club Far North QLD, The Best Football Club QLD & The Best Social Club QLD at the prestigious Clubs QLD Awards For Excellence.
• July 12th  2014  Cazalys Stadium hosts it’s 4th AFL premiership game this time between The Western Bulldogs and The Gold Coast Suns.
• March 23rd 2015 Cazalys wins The Best Club Far North QLD, The Best Football Club QLD, The Best Community Service By A Licensed Club QLD & the Best Queensland Club Of The Year 2015 at the prestigious Clubs QLD Awards For Excellence.
• July 11th  2015  Cazalys Stadium hosts it’s 5th AFL premiership game between The Western Bulldogs and The Gold Coast Suns.
• December 12th 2015 Cazalys Stadium hosts an A league game between the Brisbane Roar and Wellington Phoenix.
• July 16th 2016 Cazalys Stadium hosts it’s 6th AFL Premiership game between The Gold Coast Suns and The Western Bulldogs.
• December 8,9,10th 2016 Cazalys Stadium hosts the cricket with the Australia XI versus Pakistan.
• July 22nd 2017 Cazalys Stadium hosts it’s 7th AFL Premiership game between The Western Bulldogs and The Gold Coast Suns.
• 30th September 2017 Cazalys Stadium hosts Sir Elton John in his Once In A Lifetime concert.
• 3rd – 6th December 2017 Cazalys Stadium hosts Queensland Bulls v South Australian Redbacks in State Cricket.
• 24th March 2018 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership game between Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne.
• 12th January 2019 Cazalys Stadium hosts WBBL Big Bash Brisbane Heat vs Sydney Thunder.
• 18th September 2019 Grand Opening of the second entrance to Barassis Restaurant.
• 23rd March 2020 Club closed due to COVID19.
• 12th June 2020 Club reopened after restrictions lifted, in a limited capacity.
• 3rd September 2020 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership games Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons in the first of 4 games.
• 7th September 2020 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership game Melbourne Demons v Fremantle Dockers.
• 13th September 2020 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership game Sydney Swans v Brisbane Lions.
• 20th September 2020 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership game Fremantle Dockers v Western Bulldogs.
• 12th June 2021 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership game Saints V Crows.
• 13th July 2021 2nd Reception opens as the Barassis Entrance to Cazalys Social club.
• 8th December 2021 Cazalys Stadium hosts International Cricket Pakistan V Australia.
• 30th April, 2022 Cazalys Stadium hosts AFL Premiership game St Kilda V Port Adelaide.
• 2nd July, 2022 Cazalys Stadium hosts Freestyle Kings.
• 6th, 8th & 11th September, 2022 Cazalys Stadium hosts ODI, Australia V New Zealand.
• 15th December, 2022 Cazalys Stadium hosts BBL Brisbane Heat V Melbourne Demons.
• 18th October, 2023 MONOPOLY Cairns Edition is launched with Cazalys Stadium / AFL Cairns featured.
• 20th Nov, 2023 Cazalys opens the multi-million dollar Solar Shade Carpark, providing shaded carparking for 184 cars and Solar to reduce energy costs.
• 13th April, 2024 Cazalys Stadium hosts Freestyle Kings.