November 17, 2024 – Spruleswood travells

I have keep saying that I am going to do this every time we come to the area, so camera in hand late on a Sunday afternoon I set off in to Innisfail to try to capture the essence of this great far north Queensland town. Situated on the Johnstone river about 100K south of Cairns, Innisfail rests in lush Banana and sugarcane country, amazing tropical rain forests and close coral reefs and the quirky art deco architecture are some of the reasons we keep coming back.

Innisfail is not the coolest place in Queensland any night over 18deg at any time of the year is unusual, lots of rain and the occasional cyclone; In 2006 category 5 cyclone larry devastated Innisfail causing millions of dollars in damage and loss of business to town and farming communities for many kilometres from the centre

History of Innisfail

I had cause to travel through the area a week after the event and the town, rain forest and farming area were almost unrecognisable. But sometimes these events shape a community, the town has been rebuilt after Larry, but a previous cyclone that did more damage made Innisfail the quirky art deco museum it is today. A huge cyclone swept through Innisfail on 10 March 1918, causing immense damage and killing many people.Buildings destroyed included the Anglican Church and the Methodist Church. So many buildings were severely damaged, that many new buildings were erected after the cyclone using concrete rather than the more traditional timber with tin roof. As Art Deco architecture was popular at that time, many of the new buildings were built in the Art Deco style. As a result, Innisfail is now considered one of the best Australian towns for Art Deco and Streamline Moderne architecture.

The Johnstone river flows through the town, a large river with plenty of its own history, the town is only about three kilometres from the ocean with a good harbour and deep water you will usually see fishing boats from many different ports either at anchor or tied up at the fisherman’s wharf.

fishing boats Innisfail
Boats mored at Innisfail harbour
Scenic views from Innisfail bowls club
Johnstone river fishermen
Innisfail North Queensland
Cairns boats at Innisfail
Innisfail North Queensland
Innisfail North Queensland
Innisfail North Queensland
Memorial to the cane cutters of north Queensland
Bowls by the river
River view from bowls club

Innisfail has so many variations of the building style that you can just walk from house to house and see the architect’s variations, especially in residential.

Innisfail architecture
Later built home with art deco flavour
Innisfail architecture
Innisfail architecture
Innisfail architecture
Innisfail house
Accomodation house built in art deco style

Walking around the town on a Sunday evening, the lack of people, the light changing very quickly I think suited the building designs, I hope that I have done justice to this beautiful historical town.