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| Innisfail Queensland | |
 The township of Innisfail, as seen from Coquette Point | |
  Innisfail | |
| Population: | 8,262(2006)[1] |
| Established: | 1879 [2] |
| Postcode: | 4860 |
| Coordinates: |  17°33′S 146°05′ECoordinates: 17°33′S 146°05′E |
| Elevation: | 10 m (33 ft) [3] |
| Location: |
|
| LGA: | Cassowary Coast Region |
| State electorate: | Mulgrave |
| Federal Division: | Kennedy |
| Contents [show] |
[edit] History
Prior to European settlement the Innisfail area was occupied by five separate societies of the Mamu people. These Aboriginal people followed migratory lifestyles in the rainforest and transverse rivers in string-bark canoes.
The first arrival of European people came in 1872 when survivors of the shipwreck, the "Maria" arrived on the coastal areas surrounding what is now the Johnstone River. Sub-Inspector Renee Gordon's search party came with the intention of rescuing remaining survivors. The crew would later venture up river between what is today Flying Fish and Coquette Points. Johnstone wrote very highly of the area, stating:
A most glorious view appeared - a noble reach of fresh water, studded with blacks with their canoes and catamarans, others on the sandy beaches; deep blue fresh water expanding to an imposing breadth. —Robert Johnstone (1872), [2]
Johnstone named the area after himself and upon his recommendation the explorer George Dalrymple arrived in the area in September 1873 to chart the area further.Later in 1879, Irishman Thomas Henry FitzGerald arrived in the area to help establish the sugar industry. He was accompanied by large numbers of Kanaka South Sea Islanders workers with smaller numbers of Irish labourers. The house built FitzGerald and consequently first establishment in the area was called Innisfallen; the romantic name for Ireland, and after the largest island in the Lakes of Killarney, Ireland.
From 1879, settlement was named Geraldton after FitzGerald, but in 1910 was renamed 'Innisfail' to avoid confusion with the town of the same name in Western Australia.[6]
The 1920s and 1930s saw the beginning of a major period settlement by Italian immigrants and noteworthy populations from Greece and Malta. Later in this period populations from Yugoslavia, India, Pakistan and the Philippines would also settle in the area.[2][7]
[edit] Culture
A large turnout of the Annual Harvest Festival Parade in 2005 Today Innisfail remains incredibly multicultural, with prominent populations of indigenous Australians, Europeans (in particular Italians), Indians and East Asians (in particular Hmongs).[8][9][10]There are a number of events that take place annually to celebrate the cultural diversity within the Innisfail community:
- Kulture Karnival
- Festival Innisfail
- Feast of the Senses
- Feast of the Three Saints
In 2001 Los Angeles band Sugar Ray filmed part of their music DVD "Music In High Places" at the Johnstone Crocodile Farm in Innisfail.
Being a small community, and one that was recently subjected to a severe natural disaster Innisfail harbours a definite sense of community. The township has only 2 secondary schools: Good Counsel College and Innisfail State College and a single business district.
There are many events that act predominantly as community events, the main ones include:
- The Innisfail Rodeo
- Harvest Festival
- Annual Show
[edit] Geography
Innisfail's town centre is situated at the junction of the North and South Johnstone Rivers, approximately 5 km (3 mi) from the coast.[13] It is located near large tracts of old-growth tropical rainforest surrounded by vast areas of extensive farmlands. Queensland's highest mountain, Mount Bartle Frere; part of Australia's Great Dividing Range, is 15 kilometres (9 mi) to the north.[14]
[edit] Climate
Innisfail experiences a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen climate classification Af) as it lies between the tropic of Capricorn and the equator causing an exclusively tropical climate.[15] Consistently, humid, warm weather is common in Innisfail. In particular Innisfail is reputed as being amongst the wettest towns in Australia.[16] Tully, 52 kilometres (32 mi) south of Innisfail is generally considered to be the wettest. Unlike most of tropical Australia,[17] the dry season is not completely dry as easterly winds bring frequent showers;[18] rainfall is, however, still far lower than during the southern summer. Monthly totals of over 1,000 mm (39 in) are a routine occurrence in the region between January and April.[19]
| [hide]Climate data for Innisfail | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 29.8 (85.6) | 28.3 (82.9) | 26.4 (79.5) | 24.5 (76.1) | 24.1 (75.4) | 25.1 (77.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 28.4 (83.1) | 29.7 (85.5) | 30.8 (87.4) | 27.9 (82.2) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 22.1 (71.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 18.3 (64.9) | 16.1 (61.0) | 15.2 (59.4) | 15.4 (59.7) | 16.9 (62.4) | 18.9 (66.0) | 20.8 (69.4) | 22.0 (71.6) | 19.3 (66.7) |
| Precipitation mm (inches) | 509.2 (20.047) | 599.8 (23.614) | 660.7 (26.012) | 459.3 (18.083) | 301.1 (11.854) | 189.3 (7.453) | 135.3 (5.327) | 118.2 (4.654) | 85.4 (3.362) | 83.1 (3.272) | 154.9 (6.098) | 264.9 (10.429) | 3,567.0 (140.433) |
| Source: Australian Bureau of Meteorology[20] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Cyclones
Howe St. in East Innisfail is commonly affected by even minor flooding Innisfail is consistently under threat from tropical cyclones developing in the Coral Sea in and around summer months.[21] Furthermore, high rainfall associated with aforementioned cyclones and monsoons, combined with Innisfail settlement on adjoining rivers causes flooding to be commonplace, occurring to varied degrees of severity annually.[22] Innisfail suffered extensive damage in 2006 due to Cyclone Larry as the site of landfall and received over 100mm of rain in the span of three hours.
Cyclone Larry storm path, the storm eye passed directly over Innisfail Main article: Cyclone Larry Tropical Cyclone Larry, an Australian Category 4 cyclone (initially thought to be Category 5), struck the locality at 7am on 20 March 2006, with the eye of the storm passing over the town.Severe structural damage occurred over the entirety of the township, the main damage being a portion of houses losing roofs and windows and the cyclone rendered even more homes structurally unsound. Power was effectively eliminated from the town and generators became a luxury in many homes. Clean drinking water was also compromised in many homes leading to health fears. The swift response of the Australian Defence Force was praised by many and the clean up campaign they orchestrated allowed for total utilities restoration within 3 weeks. Severe damage was done to crops and plantations (mainly bananas) which had a serious economic impact on the region. Only 1 indirect death was record as a result of the cyclone.
Cyclone Larry was a direct and primary cause of the widely reported and dramatic surge in banana prices in Australia. Inflated cost remained until farmers were able to meet demand again in early 2007. In February 2011 Cyclone Yasi hit Innisfail.[23][24][25]
[edit] Council Controversy
Main article: Shire of Johnstone
The Innisfail Central Business District as it is today On 8 February 2007 the Johnstone Shire Council was sacked by the Queensland State Government by Queensland's Local Government Minister, Andrew Fraser because of internal conflict, inappropriate behaviour and financial problems, despite an issued show cause presented on 2 August 2006.[26][27]Amongst the perceived gross misconduct were the following incidences:
- The purchase of a $250 000 Steinway Model D Piano with insurance money from Cyclone Larry.[28]
- Former Deputy Mayor George Pervan was quoted on commercial radio during an interview during the aftermath of Cyclone Larry requesting Southern Queenslanders to:
[edit] Innisfail today
At present Innisfail has largely recovered from the devastation of Cyclone Larry. After the cyclone the township underwent something of an economic boom that stemmed from an influx of tradespeople and business eager to capitalize upon relatively significant insurance payouts. According to reports local trade had increased some 30 - 40% opposed to expected increases of 10%.[31] [32]
The main industries remain predominately banana and sugar cane and have since recovered from the natural disaster. Outlying areas of Innisfail have also resumed manufacture of tea, pawpaws and other exotic fruits.[33]
Innisfail remains a popular destination for backpackers seeking employment in the fruit picking industry. Tourism is of importance to the township and the town consistently seeks to attract visitors passing through on the Bruce Highway.[34]
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This post has been edited by Ian Williams: 13 March 2012 - 17:20
