Art Deco Walks in Innisfail
In Tropical Far North Queensland the Innisfail Central Business District (just 25 minutes North of Djarawong)is undergoing an urban renewal. The rebuilding of Innisfail following the cyclone of March 1918 gave Innisfail its predominate Art Deco Style of architecture. For the second time in history, in March 2006, Cyclone Larry created the opportunity for Innisfail’s art deco architecture to be revitalised and preserved.
Today Innisfail’s CBD area has Australia’s largest concentration of art deco buildings. Within 300 metres there are examples of Spanish, Sicilian, Moroccan, Italian and Anglo Saxon art deco design facades.
Art Deco in the Tropics – Innisfail Inc was established in 2002 to promote and conserve and celebrate the architectural heritage of Innisfail and the surrounding townships.
History of Art Deco in Innisfail
Innisfail is situated at the meeting of two grand rivers the North and South Johnstone rivers.
The early European settlers hacked through the tropical rainforest to establish the town site in the late 1800’s. Buildings were predominately constructed of timber - built and rebuilt after cyclones, fires and white ant infestations. The devastating cyclone of 1918 forced a rethinking of the type of construction materials being used. The town was rebuilt in concrete and brick to the style of the 1920's, the Art Deco era.
The buildings in the town were adapted to the tropical living conditions of Far North Queensland by having peaked roofs instead of flat roofs and wide verandas. Many of these elements may be seen in the Innisfail CBD buildings. There are porthole windows, curved building facades, foyers, many tiled facades and leadlight windows featuring geometric designs.
A fine example of cultural influence in Art Deco architecture is the Arcidiacano House in Rankin Street. It is 1930's Spanish Mission style Art Deco. The Country Target Store constructed in 2004, incorporates porthole design features, art deco period signage and geometric patterns on the façade.