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 [now a World Heritage Site, hacking is forbidden] 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.
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