# East Innisfail, Queensland

East Innisfail is a suburban locality in the Cassowary Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2021 census, East Innisfail had a population of 1,757 people.

## Geography

The locality is bounded by the Johnstone River to the north, by its tributary the South Johnstone River to the west and by Marty Street to the south.
East Innisfail is directly linked to the Innisfail CBD via the new Jubilee Bridge (17°31′30″S 146°01′58″E﻿ / ﻿17.5251°S 146.0329°E﻿ / -17.5251; 146.0329﻿ (Jubilee Bridge)) over the South Johnstone River.

## History

Historically the suburb was linked to the CBD by the original Jubilee Bridge, which was built in 1923.
Land for a school was secured by the Department of Lands in 1935. Innisfail East State School opened on 6 March 1936.
In 1930, the local Methodists relocated a church from Chillagoe to Mourilyan Road, East Innisfail.
Radiant Life Christian College opened on 13 February 1982.
Due to deterioration from both age and increased traffic flow, the original Jubilee Bridge was closed on 19 July 2010 after concerns were raised over the safety and integrity of the structure. The new Jubilee Bridge was built, which opened on 2 September 2011.
In early 2011, some residents in low-lying areas of the suburb were evacuated ahead of the passing of Cyclone Yasi. Shortly after there were a number of cases of dengue fever recorded in the suburb.
Darlinga Forest School opened in February 2021. It was an independent primary (Prep-4) school for boys and girls at 89 Mourilyan Road with an emphasis on hands-on outdoor education. In 2023, it had an enrolment of 10 students with 3 teachers (1.8 full-time equivalent) and a part-time school support worker. The school was closed in mid-2023 by the Queensland Government's Non-State Schools Accreditation Board.

## Demographics

In the 2006 census, East Innisfail had a population of 1,608 people.
In the 2011 census, East Innisfail had a population of 1,828 people.
In the 2016 census, East Innisfail had a population of 1,855 people.
In the 2021 census, East Innisfail had a population of 1,757 people.

## Heritage listings

East Innisfail has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
* Innisfail Water Tower, Mourilyan Street (17°31′43″S 146°02′03″E﻿ / ﻿17.5286°S 146.0343°E﻿ / -17.5286; 146.0343﻿ (Innifail Water Tower))

## Education

Innisfail East State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 92 Mourilyan Road (17°32′05″S 146°01′58″E﻿ / ﻿17.5347°S 146.0327°E﻿ / -17.5347; 146.0327﻿ (Innisfail East State School)). In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 260 students with 17 teachers (16 full-time equivalent) and 15 non-teaching staff (11 full-time equivalent).
Radiant Life Christian College is a private primary (Prep-7) school for boys and girls at 1-5 Riley Street (17°32′22″S 146°02′05″E﻿ / ﻿17.5395°S 146.0348°E﻿ / -17.5395; 146.0348﻿ (Radiant Life College)). The school has an emphasis on education of Indigenous children but is open to all children. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 83 students with 6 teachers (5 full-time equivalent) and 11 non-teaching staff. In 2020, the school had an enrolment of 91 students (of whom 89 were Indigenous) with 6 teachers and 16 non-teaching staff (14 full-time equivalent). There is one Indigenous teacher and 14 Indigenous non-teaching staff.
There is no secondary school in East Inisfail; the nearest is in Innisfail State College in neighbouring Innisfail Estate to the north.

## Amenities

The Innisfail Bowls Club is at 1 The Corso (17°31′31″S 146°02′02″E﻿ / ﻿17.5253°S 146.0338°E﻿ / -17.5253; 146.0338﻿ (Innisfail Bowls Club)) at the confluence of the rivers.
The locality has three churches and a park running along the river.