Innisfail

Innisfail and the Johnstone River

Innisfail is the largest town (pop. 9000) between Cairns and Townsville. It has a rich Italian heritage dating back to pre WW1 when many southern Italians emigrated to North Queensland to join the cane cutting gangs . Now their descendants own many of the cane farms and banana and papaya farms surrounding Innisfail.

Don't be surprised if you hear more Italian than English being spoken in the shops and cafes. The town is on the confluence of the North and South Johnstone Rivers which spill into the Coral Sea beside Flying Fish Point. There are some fine examples of Srt Deco buildings around the town such as the Shire Hall and Catholic Church on Rankin St.

Art Deco in Innisfail - the Shire Hall

Colourful art deco shopfront   Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church

If you cross the N.Johnstone opposite the hospital, Flying Fish Point road will take you out to the mouth of the river. Follow the road through Flying Fish Point onto Ella Bay Road will take you to Ella Bay after about 3km. 

Innisfail from the north, the Graham Range & N.Johnstone River

The beautiful Ella Bay beach is almost deserted and runs for about 10km to Cooper Point through the Ella Bay national Park which is a gorgeous lowland wetland ringed by the coastal Graham range.

Ella Bay looking south

  Ella Bay to the North Barnard Islands

Ella Bay beach, Cooper Point, Bramston Beach, High Island & Fitzroy Island in the distance

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