See Poy House

This substantial timber private home in Edith Street Innisfail reflects the importance of the Chinese See Poy family in the establishment and development of the town. Taam Sze Pui, later anglicised to Tom See Poi, came to Innisfail (known as Geraldton at the time) from the Palmer River goldfields in the early 1880s, to work in the banana industry. In 1883, Tom and some friends established a store at Mourilyan, later moving to Innisfail. The business prospered after the See Poy sons joined the enterprise in the 1920s. Tom died in 1925 and his eldest son Johnstone became company director. The company then became the largest department store in north Queensland, and a substantial new two-storey reinforced concrete store was built in 1930. Family members then built private residences within a short distance of their store, located on the north-eastern corner of Edith and Ernest Streets. The only remaining house of the original four is that of Johnstone See Poy at 134 Edith Street. While it appears a typical interwar Queenslander; the size of the house, the quality of materials and fittings reflect the wealth and standing of the family. This is a private home and not publically accessible.