G’day — Jason and Louis here. Since 2022 we’ve installed, repaired and serviced air conditioning right across Cairns, and just about every job has a bit of electrical in it. Customers kept asking if we could sort the switchboard, add a power point, put a fan up, or get the smoke alarms done at the same time. Now we can. We’ve added a licensed electrician to the team, so Great Northern Air & Refrigeration handles residential electrical work too — same crew, same $0 call-out fee, same standard of work.
What we do
Smoke alarm upgrades
Interconnected photoelectric alarms to meet the Queensland rules that apply to every home from 1 January 2027. Installed, tested and certified.
Smoke alarm page →Switchboards & safety switches
Old ceramic fuses, tripping breakers, no safety switch on the lights — we upgrade the board to current standards so your home is protected.
Get a quote →Power points & lighting
Extra power points, USB outlets, outdoor points, downlights, LED upgrades and replacing tired fittings — done neatly, first time.
Get a quote →Ceiling fans
Supply and install, or install your own. Bedroom, living and outdoor fans, with the right wiring and switching so they last through a Cairns summer.
Get a quote →Aircon circuits & installs
A new split system needs its own circuit. We do the unit and the electrical in one visit — one crew, one price, no waiting on a second trade.
Aircon installation →Faults & safety checks
Tripping safety switch, dead power point, burning smell at the board? We find the fault, fix it safely and tell you straight what’s needed.
Call 0495 050 747 →Smoke alarm rules for Queensland homes — the 2027 deadline
Queensland’s smoke alarm laws have been rolling out in stages since 2017. Rentals and homes being sold have had to comply since 2022. From 1 January 2027 the rules apply to every home. That means interconnected photoelectric alarms in every bedroom, in the hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house, and on every storey — hardwired, or powered by a sealed 10-year battery, and all linked so when one goes off they all do.
Hardwired alarms have to be installed by a licensed electrician. Most Cairns homes built before 2017 still have single-point alarms that won’t comply. We’ll check what you’ve got, tell you what’s needed, and do the lot in one visit.
Does your home comply?
- A photoelectric alarm in every bedroom
- Alarms in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house
- At least one alarm on every storey
- All alarms interconnected — one goes, they all go
- Hardwired to mains, or a sealed 10-year battery
- Less than 10 years old
Missing any of these? You’ll need an upgrade before 1 January 2027.
Why Cairns homes call Great Northern
How it works
Tell us what you need
Fill in the form or ring 0495 050 747. Two minutes, no obligation.
We call you back within the hour
Jason or Louis will ring during business hours, ask a few questions and give you a price or book a quick look.
Booked, done, certified
Our licensed electrician does the job neatly, tests it and leaves you with the paperwork.
Get a free electrical quote
Tell us what you need and where you are. We’ll call you back within the hour during business hours with a price or a time to come and look.
- $0 call-out fee and a free, no-obligation quote
- We call you back within the hour during business hours
- Licensed electrical contractor — every job tested, certified and guaranteed
- Two owners on the phone, not a call centre
Frequently asked questions
Are you licensed to do electrical work?
Yes. Great Northern Air & Refrigeration holds a Queensland electrical contractor licence (1512190) alongside our QBCC (15329389) and ARCtick (AU61650) licences, and the work is done by a licensed electrician. You’ll get a certificate of test for the work that needs one.
Do you charge a call-out fee for electrical jobs?
No — the same $0 call-out fee we’ve always had for air conditioning applies to electrical work. You get a clear price before we start.
What electrical work do you do?
Residential work: smoke alarm installations and upgrades for the 2027 Queensland rules, switchboard upgrades and safety switches, power points and lighting, ceiling fans, and the dedicated circuit for a new air conditioner. We don’t do commercial fit-outs, solar or EV chargers at this stage.
Do I need to upgrade my smoke alarms before 2027?
If your home still has the old single-point alarms, yes. From 1 January 2027 every Queensland home needs interconnected photoelectric smoke alarms in each bedroom, in hallways that connect bedrooms to the rest of the house, and on every storey. Rentals and homes being sold have needed this since 2022. We install and certify the lot in one visit — see our smoke alarm page.
How quickly can you come out?
Most jobs are booked within the week, and we’ll call you back within the hour during business hours to lock in a time. Emergency breakdowns — no power, a tripping safety switch, anything unsafe — we get to the same day.
Which areas do you cover?
Palm Cove to Gordonvale as our core area, including Smithfield, Trinity Beach, Redlynch, Edge Hill, Manunda, Woree, Mount Sheridan, Edmonton and everywhere in between. Kuranda, the Tablelands and Port Douglas by arrangement.
Areas we cover
Palm Cove to Gordonvale is home turf — the same run we’ve serviced for air conditioning since 2022 — with the Tablelands and Port Douglas by arrangement.