Extreme beginnings: the effect of cyclones on the development of Innisfail Far North Queensland

From the earliest days of white settlement in North Queensland, cyclones have shaped the way settlers have responded to living with destructive winds, torrential rains, storm surges and flooding. These extreme events have inflicted a heavy toll on the built environment and brought about structural changes in many towns to counter the effects of nature. This paper explores the development of the Innisfail area in an extreme tropical environment. By following the relationships between cyclones and the evolution of construction methods, a more enduring built environment has emerged. In particular these structural changes have come under scrutiny provided by the recent severe Cyclone Larry. The destructive impact on significant heritage places is high and appropriate conservation remains a challenge for those charged with protecting it