New tours of the Innisfail Shire Hall are showcasing its art deco grandeur and promoting the region as the art deco capital of Australia.
Cassowary Coast Mayor John Kremastos said the half-hour tours were the first step in increasing art deco tourism in the region.
“The Cassowary Coast’s world-heritage rainforests, beautiful beaches, cane and bananas are well-known and they are promoted on a national and international stage,” Mayor Kremastos said.
“The tourism potential of our art deco buildings is something we are keen to help the region capitalise on further.”
A new 30-minute tour of the Innisfail Shire Hall includes a history of the hall, which was built in the 1930s, and an introduction to art deco - a style of visual arts, architecture and design that was a worldwide movement between the first and second world wars.
The Innisfail Shire Hall, also known as the Johnstone Shire Hall, has popular art deco features including geometrically-patterned Terrazzo floor tiles, sunburst mouldings and hexagonal lights in the ceiling and geometric balustrading.
Cr Ben Heath said visitors to Innisfail often asked to be shown around the shire hall so the new tours were formalising earlier on-demand tours.
“They also give our tourism officer a chance to further promote art deco as a whole-of- region tourism experience,” he said.
“As part of the tour we will be taking people out onto the hall balcony for a view of all the well-preserved art deco facades on Rankin St and we will hand out self-guided town walk brochures so visitors can continue the art deco experience at their leisure.
“Innisfail CBD building owners and the Innisfail Art Deco Society have done a great job maintaining the art deco facades and building in art deco style. Similar facades can be seen in Tully’s CBD area.
“We would love to see some commercial opportunities come out of art deco tourism.”
Council is running the tours on Tuesdays from 10:30am.
To book an Innisfail Shire Hall tour visit the Innisfail Visitor Information I-Van alongside the Bruce Highway in ANZAC Memorial Park or ring 0428 228 962.