Townsville overlooking Magnetic Island

Townsville Qld 4810 (Pop 150 000 with Thuringowa)

Townsville is North Queensland’s ‘tropical capital’and is located 1 334 km n-w of Brisbane on Cleveland Bay. This elegant coastal city, together with its twin city, Thuringowa is the state’s third largest. European settlement began in 1860s with a port established (to serve both regional mining and pastoral interests). The area boomed with subsequent gold discoveries, sugar cane, hinterland pastoral industries and the railway. Townsville is quite unique in that, although definitely a tourist destination, it has retained its graceful sense of sophistication. Cotters Markets each Sun. Greek Festival (Mar), Australian Festival of Chamber Music (July).

Tourist Attractions & Info:
Historic Townsville includes Tattersalls Hotel (1865), Townville Post Office (1886), The Exchange (1882), Queens Hotel (1900-20), The Great Northern (1901). Three historic buildings (moved and reconstructed by the National Trust), Castling St, West End are a worker’s cottage (1884), farm house (1921) and ‘Currajong’ a lovely villa (1888). Open (10am-2pm) Wed and (1pm-4pm) weekends. Perc Tuker Gallery, Flinders Mall (1885) excellent permanent and visiting modern exhibitions. North Queensland Military Museum, Kissing Pt (1880) fine collection of northern Queensland military memorabilia. Open (9am-3pm). Townsville Museum, Sturt St and Maritime Museum, Palmer St – both open (10am-3pm). RAAF Museum, Flinders St East – open 1^st Sun each month. Castle Hill Lookout, off Stanley St (292 m) and Mount Stuart Lookout (585 m) spectacular views. Townsville Common Envionmental Park, Cape Pallarenda Rd coastline park of grasslands, forests, forest walks and prolific birdlife. Botanical Gardens – there are 3. The old Queens Gardens, Paxton St a 4 ha park of extensive and tropical trees and flowers; AndersonPark, Mundingburra a 32 ha park with much varied flora, a lagoon and conservatory and Palmetum, Nathan St Douglas 17 ha park featuring over 300 species of palms. Thuringowa a new ‘city’ created in 1986 that more accurately comprises suburbs of Townsville.

Nearby:
Magnetic Island (8 km n-e) More than half is made up of the Magnetic Island NP with its massive boulders, hoop pines, pretty bays, cultural heritage and abundant wildlife (rock wallabies, koalas, possums) and birdlife. There are over 36 km of walking trails and the island offers many sporting activities (swimming, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, bushwalking). Bowling Green NP (34 km south) area’s largest coastal park made up of granite mountains, saltpans, mangroves, varied wildlife and waterfalls at Alligator Creek.

Accommodation:
Townsville has over 20 motels, half a dozen hotels, a resort, many holiday apartments and 6 caravan parks. Visitor Information Centres: Flinders Mall. Tel (07) 4721 3660 or at Bruce Hwy. Tel (07) 4778 3555 or 1800 801 902.