The Commonwealth Health Laboratories were initially established as part of the quarantine system. The were also to undertake research into local health problems and to provide doctors in each district with facilities for laboratory investigation and diagnosis. Close
cooperation existed between the laboratories and state/local health and hospital services. In its investigational work each laboratory was able to call upon the resources of the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CA 632) and the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Sydney (CA 633).With the exception of x-rays, the laboratories covered all diagnostic requirements: pathology, public health, haematology, parasitology, mycology, bacteriology, biochemistry and blood group serology (Commonwealth Yearbook, 1966, p. 566).
 
The laboratories were originally known as Commonwealth Health Laboratories. The 1973-74 "Annual Report" of the Department of Health (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No.207 of 1974, p. 75) noted that the title of each laboratory had been officially changed to
'Commonwealth Pathology Laboratory', as the primary activity of the laboratories by that time was the provision of a pathology laboratory service to medical practitioners and hospitals.
 
The Cairns Laboratory first appears in the 1929 Commonwealth Yearbook (p. 505). Its location and administrative structure are subject to further research.
 

Historical agency address
The Esplanade, Cairns, Qld