Establishment Townsville

townsville ca. 1870



anzac cenotaph , esplanade, townsville, circa 1935

the burdekin river s seasonal flooding made establishment of seaport north of river essential nascent inland cattle industry. john melton black of woodstock station, employee of sydney entrepreneur , businessman robert towns, dispatched andrew ball, mark watt reid , detachment of 8 troopers of native police search suitable site. ball s party reached ross creek in april 1864 and established camp below rocky spur of melton hill, near present customs house on strand. edward kennedy, member of surveying party, recalls native police chasing local tribesmen ocean , pumping lead @ them. on return journey port denison, group dispersed aboriginal clan, rounding fifteen women remained @ scene of combat , abducted them barracks. no mention made of fate of children. first party of settlers, led w. a. ross, arrived @ cleveland bay woodstock station on 5 november of year. in 1866 robert towns visited 3 days, first , visit. agreed provide ongoing financial assistance new settlement , townsville named in honour.

townsville declared municipality in february 1866, john melton black elected first mayor. townsville developed rapidly major port , service centre cape river, gilbert, ravenswood, etheridge , charters towers goldfields. regional pastoral , sugar industries expanded , flourished. townsville s population 4,000 people in 1882 and grew 13,000 by 1891.

in 1901 lord hopetoun made goodwill tour of northern australia , accepted invitation officially open townsville s town hall, occasioning first ever vice-regal ceremonial unfurling of australian national flag. brisbane, in 1902 townsville proclaimed city under local authorities act.

parade of 31st battalion, kennedy regiment, marching down flinders street, townsville, queensland, 1937

the foundation stone of townsville cenotaph laid in strand park on 19 july 1923. unveiled on 25 april 1924 (anzac day) queensland governor, sir matthew nathan.