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Background: The rate of hospital admissions for cirrhosis increased 1.3‐fold during 2008–2016 in Queensland. Alcohol misuse was a contributing factor for cirrhosis in 55% of admissions and 40% of patients had at least one comorbidity. Aims: To examine the temporal change in aetiology of liver disease and presence of comorbidity in patients admitted with cirrhosis. Methods: Population‐based retrospective cohort study of all people treated in hospital for cirrhosis (10 254 patients) in Queensland during 2008–2016. Data were sourced from Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection. Results: The commonest aetiology was alcohol (49.5%), followed by cryptogenic (unspecified cirrhosis; 28.5%), hepatitis C virus (19.3%), non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)/non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (4.8%) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) (4.3%). The prevalence of alcohol‐related (P = 0.41) and hepatitis C virus (P = 0.08) remained stable between 2008–2010 and 2014–2016, that of NAFLD/NASH, cryptogenic and HBV‐cirrhosis increased by 67% (P < 0.00001), 27% (P < 0.00001) and 20% (P = 0.00019), respectively; 41.1% of patients had at least one comorbidity. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes nearly doubled (from 13.7% to 25.4%; P < 0.00001) between 2008–2010 and 2014–2016. Conclusions: Alcohol misuse was the most important aetiology. The importance of NAFLD/NASH, cryptogenic and HBV‐cirrhosis and the burden of comorbidity increased during 2008–2016. Ongoing alcohol misuse and the increasing prevalence of NAFLD/NASH, cryptogenic cirrhosis and comorbid type 2 diabetes among admissions for cirrhosis has implications for public health interventions to reduce the burden of unhealthy lifestyle and metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]