April 23, 2019 - Heritage on display in Shire Hall and local libraries

Rivers, light rail and civic buildings as connecters of people, places and the past is the focus of the Australian Heritage Festival exhibition which is on display in the Innisfail Shire Hall until May 19.

The exhibition predominantly features photos from the Cassowary Coast Libraries’ local history collection, with some paintings by local artists, also from the collection. It explores how rivers and bridges played an integral role in the multicultural and industrial development of our region, connecting people through industry and leisure activities.

Library Assistant Natasha Lavell, who helped put the exhibition together, said the Rivers and Bridges section of the exhibition included photos of Chinese sampans loading bananas onto steamers, images of the wharves and ferries that were once commonplace around our waterways, and paintings of two bridges that were vital in connecting our community, both locally and with neighbouring regions.

She said the Light Rail section featured photos of innovative ways the community used the loco lines for industry, leisure and transport – from picnic trains to ‘velocipedes’ and the rail/trolley ambulance. It also included migrant workers and a beautiful painting of South Johnstone, famous for the loco line running down the main street.

Also featured are sample pages of architectural concept plans for the Innisfail Shire Hall, dating from 1933, but which were overlooked in favour of the design that was used for the much-loved hall in use today.

Librarian Joyce Williams said more Heritage Festival displays could be seen at Council libraries in Cardwell, Innisfail, Tully and Wongaling Beach, and also the Bush Telegraph Museum at Cardwell.

Admission to the displays in the Innisfail Shire Hall and Council libraries is free of charge.

“Local history images may also be viewed on our online catalogue,” Ms Williams said.

Ms Lavell said the team was hoping Innisfail Library goers could help solve a mystery.

“We came across a beautiful portrait of a young woman in the Council’s collection and all we know is that her name may have been Rose Turley and that her photo was taken around 1910,” Ms Lavell said.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who has any information about Rose or her family. Perhaps one of her descendants will recognise her.”

For more information about the libraries, visit Council’s webpage www.cassowarycoast.qld.gov.au/libraries.

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