Discover 35 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Townsville (Australia). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Willows Sports Complex, Magnetic Island Museum, and Reef HQ. Also, be sure to include Museum of Tropical Queensland in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Townsville (Queensland).
Table of Contents
Willows Sports Complex
Sports complex in Kirwan, Australia. The Willows Sports Complex, currently known as 1300SMILES Stadium through sponsorship, is a grass football stadium situated in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It has been a predominantly rugby league ground as the home ground of the North Queensland Cowboys National Rugby League club. The ground has also been used for rugby union and soccer. From 2009 to 2011, A-League football club North Queensland Fury called it home. Since inception as a rugby league ground, the ground has had sponsored naming rights: Stockland Stadium, Malanda Stadium and Dairy Farmers Stadium. The last NRL match to be played at 1300SMILES Stadium was on Thursday 29 August 2019 between the North Queensland Cowboys and Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs.[1]
Address: Golf Links Drive, 4817 Townsville
Magnetic Island Museum
Museum in Picnic Bay, Australia. Picnic Bay State School is a heritage-listed former school and now the Magnetic Island Museum at 11-15 Granite Street, Picnic Bay, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Queensland Department of Public Works and built in 1921. It is also known as Magnetic Island State School No. 1567 and Magnetic Island Craft Shop. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 June 1996.[2]
Reef HQ
Aquarium in Australia. Reef HQ is the world's largest living coral reef aquarium. It is located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The aquarium was built as a Bicentennial Commemorative project and is a part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. The Coral Reef Exhibit has 130 coral species and 120 fish species along with hundreds of species of sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittle stars, feather stars, snails, worms and sponges.[3]
Address: 2-68 Flinders Street East, 4810 Townsville
Museum of Tropical Queensland
Museum in Australia. The Museum of Tropical Queensland is a museum of natural history, archaeology and history located in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is located in the same complex as the Reef HQ Aquarium. MTQ is a member of the Queensland Museum Campus Network.[4]
Address: 70-102 Flinders St., 4810 Townsville
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery
Art gallery in Australia. Perc Tucker Regional Gallery is a heritage-listed public art gallery in the Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
Located on the corner of Flinders and Denham streets, the Gallery has a collection of over 2,000 artworks and hosts touring national and international exhibits. The Gallery was officially opened by the Mayor of Townsville, Alderman M F Reynolds, on 25 September 1981. The gallery focuses on artwork relevant to North Queensland and the Tropics. The collection includes Contemporary Art of Tropical Queensland, Historical Art of Tropical Queensland, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Art, Contemporary Art from Papua New Guinea, Popular Art and Ephemera. Perc Tucker has both Membership and Volunteer programs for supporters. Venue hire for functions is also available through Townsville City Council. Included in regular activities are art classes, exhibition tours, artists' talks, lectures, workshops, and performances.[5]
Address: Denham Street, 4810 Townsville
Queens Gardens
Garden in Australia. Queens Gardens is a large heritage-listed botanic garden at Paxton Street, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Queens Gardens is located at the base of Castle Hill, near to both the city centre and The Strand beachside park. It has been called Townsville's finest park. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 14 August 2008.
The gardens were formally established in 1870, and known at that time as the Botanical Gardens Reserve. They represented an acclimatisation garden, part of the colonial town's agricultural planning for both local food supply and development of farming industry. Initially 100 acres (40 ha) of land was set aside for a variety of exotic species, including cocoa, African oil palms and mangoes. Some of the hoop pines and black beans (Castanospermum australe) planted at that time are still growing today and may be the oldest cultivated specimens in Australia.
In the late nineteenth century this industrious garden began its transformation into a formal recreational park. This was briefly interrupted during World War II when Queens Gardens acted as a military base for 100,000 American soldiers. The gardens were extensively redesigned in 1959 by Mr. Alan Wilson (Superintendent of Parks) who also designed Townsville's arboretum, Anderson Gardens. Due to the needs of the growing city for central sporting grounds and residential development, the gardens are currently one tenth their original size.[6]
Address: Gregory St, North Ward, Townsville
Anzac Memorial Park
Park in Australia. Anzac Memorial Park is a heritage-listed memorial and park at The Strand, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was first built in 1912. It is also known as The Strand Park and Townsville War Memorial. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[7]
Address: The Strand, Townsville
Tobruk Pool
Public swimming pool in Australia. The Tobruk Memorial Baths is a heritage-listed complex of outdoor swimming pools on The Strand, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1941 to 1950 by Townsville City Council as a World War II memorial. The baths were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995.
The Tobruk Memorial Baths features a 50-metre (160 ft) Olympic-size swimming pool, a 25-metre (82 ft) heated pool used for children's swimming, lessons and physiotherapy and a toddlers pool. There is an on-site kiosk. The facade is a vibrant blue-and-white art deco design.[8]
Address: The Strand, Townsville
Army Museum North Queensland
Historical landmark in Australia. Kissing Point Fortification is a heritage-listed fortification at 38-40 Howitt Street, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Peter Scratchley and Major Edward Druitt and built from 1891 by A McMillan and then from 1939 to 1941. It is also known as Jezzine Barracks. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 February 2010.
It is now the home of the Army Museum of North Queensland.[9]
Address: Mitchell St, 4810 Townsville City
Victoria Bridge
Swing bridge in Australia. Victoria Bridge is a heritage-listed swing bridge over the Ross Creek at Stokes Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The central-pivoting swing bridge was constructed by G. H. Royce & Co. in 1888 to 1889. It is one of only two of its type constructed in Australia.
By 1924 the swing section had ceased to function, but the bridge continued to serve as a road bridge until 1975. Following a 1988 redevelopment, it was converted to pedestrian traffic, with a row of modern shops built along its length.
It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[10]
Pinnacles Gallery
Art gallery in Thuringowa Central, Australia. Pinnacles Gallery is an art space located within the Riverway Arts Centre at Riverway, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Its mission is "to make sure its programs are contemporary, engaging, accessible, interactive and enjoyable".
Artists can submit applications to have solo exhibitions of their work exhibited, and the gallery co-ordinates a number of group exhibitions in which artists can submit works. Pinnacles also hosts artist talks and workshops for a range of ages, as well as educational programs and guided tours for school and community groups. The gallery exhibits contemporary work from local, national and international artists.
Pinnacles also operates exhibitions at Your Space, an exhibition space for artists, community groups and curators in the foyer of the Thuringowa branch of CityLibraries Townsville. Exhibitions are generally shown for a duration of four weeks, and showcase works of a local social, literary and historical significance. Selections are made with the view to maintain a diverse, high quality community exhibition program.[11]
Address: Riverway, Village Boulevard, 4817 Townsville
Townsville Magistrates Court
Courthouse. Townsville Magistrates Court is a heritage-listed former courthouse and now theatre at 81 Sturt Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Francis Drummond Greville Stanley and built from 1874 to 1876 by J & J Rooney. It is also known as Townsville Court House and Townsville Museum. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[12]
Townsville School of Arts
Townsville School of Arts is a heritage-listed former school of arts and now community cultural centre at Stanley Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Eyre & Munro and built in 1891 by James Smith. It is also known as Dancenorth Theatre and Townsville Arts Centre. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[13]
Soroptimist Park
Park in Belgian Gardens, Australia. Soroptimist Park is a foreshore park located in the suburb of Rowes Bay, Townsville, Australia.[14]
Address: heatleys parade, 4810 Townsville
North Queensland Stadium
Stadium in Railway Estate, Australia. North Queensland Stadium, commercially known as Queensland Country Bank Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in South Townsville, Queensland, Australia.[15]
Picnic Bay Jetty
Fishing pier in Picnic Bay, Australia. Picnic Bay Jetty is a heritage-listed jetty at Esplanade, Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1959 to 1977. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 5 April 2004.[16]
St James' Cathedral
Cathedral. St James Cathedral is a heritage-listed cathedral of the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland at 36 Cleveland Terrace, Townsville, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Arthur Blacket and was built in 1887 by MacMahon & Cliffe. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.
Built atop Melton Hill the large red-brick structure is a well-known landmark of the Townsville central business district.[17]
Address: 15 Cleveland Terrace, 4810 Townsville
St Joseph's Church
Church in Australia. St Joseph's Church is a heritage-listed Roman Catholic church at Fryer Street, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Charles Dalton Lynch and Walter Hunt and built from 1920 to 1921 by Joseph Rooney. It is also known as St Joseph on The Strand. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 26 November 1999.[18]
Address: 8 Fryer Street, Townsville
Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church
Church in Australia. Saints Theodores Greek Orthodox Church is a heritage-listed church at 799 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by M. Vogiatzoglou and Joseph Gabriel Rooney, and built from 1947 to 1950 by Vause and Hayne. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 August 2000.[19]
West End Cemetery
Cemetery in West End, Queensland, Australia. West End Cemetery is a heritage-listed cemetery at Francis Street, West End, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1865 to 1930s. It is also known as Townsville General Cemetery. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 June 1996.[20]
Castle Hill
Australian Suburb. Castle Hill is a heritage-listed isolated pink granite monolith in the suburb of Castle Hill, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Its Indigenous name is Cootharinga, sometimes written as Cooderinga.
It rises to a height of some 286 metres (938 ft) above sea level and dominates the city skyline. It is one of the most distinctive natural features on the Queensland coast. There are a number of vantage points from which to view the city below and also across Cleveland Bay to nearby Magnetic Island. Castle Hill (as a hill) was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 1993.[21]
Synod Hall
Church in Australia. Synod Hall is a heritage-listed Anglican church hall at 36 Cleveland Terrace, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1897 to 1898. It is also known as Jubilee Hall and Parish Room. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[22]
St Patrick's Convent
Convent in Australia. St Patrick's Convent is a heritage-listed convent at 45 The Strand, North Ward, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built in c. 1883. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 3 February 2012.[23]
Riverway
Art center in Thuringowa Central, Australia. Riverway is a riverfront parkland attraction located in the Condon Suburb of Townsville that opened in July 2006. It stretches along 11 km of the Ross River, with areas at Pioneer Park, Loam Island, Apex Park and Ross Park at the Ross River Dam. The areas of Riverway that have been completed are Pioneer Park and Loam Island. Riverway is connected directly to the Thuringowa Central business district via a pathway along the foreshore.[24]
Address: Ross River Road, Townsville
Townsville Masonic Hall
Townsville Masonic Hall is a heritage-listed former masonic temple at 485-493 Sturt Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by W G Smith & Sons and built in 1889 by Sparre & Hansen. It is also known as Assembly of God Hall, Calvary Temple, Townsville Choral & Orchestral Society Building, Townsville Choral Society Inc. Building, and Townsville Choral and Orchestral Society Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[25]
HMAS Townsville
Fremantle-class patrol boat. HMAS Townsville, named for the city of Townsville, Queensland, was a Fremantle-class patrol boat of the Royal Australian Navy. Built by North Queensland Engineers and Agents, the ship was laid down in 1979, and commissioned into the RAN in 1981.
Assigned to the naval base HMAS Cairns, Townsville was primarily assigned to fisheries protection and border patrol operations in northern Australian waters. In December 1981, the patrol boat recaptured an escaping illegal fishing vessel. The next year, she was used for filming of the Patrol Boat television series. Townsville was deployed to Fiji as part of Operation Morris Dance in May 1987.
Townsville was decommissioned in May 2007. The ship was donated to the Townsville Maritime Museum for preservation. Attempts to put the ship on display stalled and the ship fell into disrepair, with the maritime museum acquired by Port of Townsville in 2015.[26]
The Strand
Park in Australia. The Strand is a seaside foreshore located in Townsville, Australia. It is located in the suburb of North Ward. The Strand has a view of the Port of Townsville and Magnetic Island, as well as to Cape Cleveland. Features in the area include a jetty, a recreational park, restaurants, cafes and pools.[27]
Bay Rock Light
Lighthouse in Townsville. Bay Rock Light is an inactive lighthouse which used to be located on Bay Rock, a rocky islet northwest of Magnetic Island, about 20 kilometres north of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. First lit in 1886, it was automated in 1920 and deactivated in the 1980s. It was relocated in 1992 to the Townsville Maritime Museum, where it is now displayed.[28]
Maritime Museum Of Townsville
Museum, Specialty museum
Address: 42 - 68 Palmer St, 4810 Townsville
Port of Townsville
Corporation. Port of Townsville is a government-owned Corporation and seaport in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the third largest seaport in Queensland after Port of Brisbane and the Port of Gladstone. It is located south of the mouth of Ross Creek and north of the Ross River. Main shipping access is through Cleveland Bay. A second seaport, which only exports sugar is found about 100 kilometres north of Townsville at Lucinda and is also managed by Port of Townsville Limited.
The Port of Townsville is intrinsically linked to the sustainability of the North Queensland economy, and during 2017/2018 handled $8 billion in trade. More than 30 different commodity types are imported and exported through Townsville including mineral ores, fertiliser, concentrates, sugar and motor vehicles. Townsville is the number one port in Australia for exports in copper, zinc, lead and sugar.
In 2017, just under 200,000 head of live cattle were shipped from the Port of Townsville, making it the second largest live export port in Australia after Darwin.
The Port of Townsville's Berth 10 was specifically designed to accommodate the Royal Australian Navy's new LHD vessels, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra and the port also accommodates US Navy on rest and recuperation in Townsville.[29]
Ross River Meatworks Chimney
Historical landmark in Idalia, Australia. The Ross River Meatworks Chimney is a heritage-listed abattoir at Stuart Drive, Idalia, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the 11th tallest structure in Townsville. It was built as part of the Ross River Meatworks in 1891 William McCallum Park and is now a major landmark as part of Fairfield Waters and part of Lancinis Springbank urban village. It was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 14 August 2009.[30]
Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts
Museum, Art gallery, Shopping
Address: 482 Flinders St, 4810 Townsville
St John's Anglican Church
Anglican church in Australia. St John's Anglican Church Precinct is a heritage-listed churchyard at 30-34 Macrossan Street, South Townsville, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1907 to c. 1911. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[31]
Samuel Allen & Sons Building
Samuel Allen & Sons Building is a heritage-listed commercial building at 247 Flinders Street, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1881 to 1910. It was also known as Hogs Breath Cafe. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.[32]
Ross River Dam
Lake. The Ross River Dam is a rock and earthfill-filled embankment dam across the Ross River, located between Kelso and Mount Stuart in the City of Townsville in northern Queensland, Australia. Built initially for flood control, Lake Ross, the impoundment created by the dam, serves as one of the major potable water supplies for the region.
The dam reached 250% capacity in February 2019 as a result of mass rainfall and flooding in the area.[33]