Canecutters Memorial

The Canecutters Memorial is a white marble monument on Fitzgerald Esplanade in Innisfail featuring a life-size statue of a man in traditional work clothes holding a cane knife. The figure stands on an octagonal pool with a square base, surrounded by decorative railings designed to resemble sugar cane stalks.

The memorial was constructed in 1959 to mark Queensland's centenary of separation from New South Wales. It was created during a period when the sugar industry was reshaping the region's economy and the contributions of workers like Italian immigrants were driving development.

The Italian community of Innisfail commissioned this memorial to honor their role in developing the sugar industry locally. You can see how their contribution shaped the region and remains visible in the monument's design and inscriptions.

The memorial is located at Fitzgerald Esplanade near the Johnstone River and is easily accessible from the road. Visitors should allow time to read the inscriptions in both English and Italian, which provide details about the sugar industry and its early workers.

The monument was designed by Italian artist Renato Beretta and carved from Carrara marble in Italy before being transported to Australia. This choice of material and sculptor connected the Italian heritage of the workers to the memorial honoring their labor.

GPS coordinates: -17.52388,146.03250

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:26