A $250,000 concert piano will take pride of place at Innisfail's revamped shire hall this month when it opens to the public after three long years behind barricades.

The Steinway grand piano – one of only about 20 of its kind in Australia – will arrive early next week after years under wraps in Brisbane since the former Johnstone Shire Council controversially voted to buy it.

And at last it has a home worthy of housing it.

The Cassowary Coast Council will open Innisfail’s shire hall on Anzac Day evening for the town’s inaugural Mayoress’ Black and White Charity Ball after more than $12 million worth of reconstruction, revamps and upgrades.

Cyclone Larry badly damaged the hall and it was closed three years ago.

Its revamp – funded by insurance pay-outs, government grants and ratepayers – blew out to more than $12 million late last year when heritage requirements reached $2 million.

Mayor Bill Shannon said it was now a "state-of-the-art" theatre and entertainment venue equal to, if not better than, the Cairns Civic Theatre.

No expense had been spared on lighting and sound, he said.

"We’re hoping to draw people south and north to major events with Cairns less than an hour away and to that end, we’ve been talking with Cairns and Townsville facilities about how to attract the big acts," he said.

The hall can seat up to 800 people but has seating for 500.

International pianist Piers Lane will perform at the charity ball. A piano advisory committee is being set up to help with promotion strategies, fees and user groups for the prize piano, bought with a cyclone insurance payout and $68,880 of ratepayers’ money.

Cr Shannon said the hall was a "small luxury" and he did not know the final costings, spanning three successive councils.

"We’ve inherited a wonderful asset, we’ve put in the least share compared to cyclone insurance payouts and government grants and I just hope it gets a lot of use by the community," he said.

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