City kicks off year of 150th celebrations in ceremonial style
Date published: 15 February 2016
Townsville turned back the clock by more than a century today with a ceremonial city council meeting in the historic Magistrate’s Court to officially mark the city’s 150th birthday.
Councillors, staff and guests dressed for the occasion in period costume, read proclamations and observed old customs to recapture some of the history of the actual day on February 15 in 1866 when the city was declared a municipality.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said the ceremonial meeting was the official start of a year of T150 celebrations for the city.
“Townsville has a long and proud history as a great Australian city and today marks the start of a big year of celebrations for our community,” Cr Hill said.
“The ceremonial council meeting was a great way to mark the occasion on this day 150 years ago when Townsville was proclaimed a municipality.
“From a frontier outpost in those very early days, Townsville has played a pivotal role in the development of northern Australia.
“These next 12 months of celebrations are an opportunity for all of our citizens to participate in great events and a range of activities that will highlight the city’s achievements and role in Australia’s history.”
Today’s ceremonial meeting started in colourful fashion with the city’s Town Crier, aka Ray Dickson, ringing his bell, announcing the councillors and “Town Clerk” (CEO) and then reading out the proclamation of Townsville’s status as a municipality.
Cr Hill and councillors delivered reports outlining the council’s role in historic and important events and projects in the city’s 150-year history.
Topics included the city’s involvement in wars and Australia’s military history, war memorials, the first unfurling of the Federal flag in 1901, the 1991 Spanish Influenza epidemic, first female councillor Joan Innes Reid, construction of the Strand, Anzac Park, Paluma Road, Civic Theatre, Civic Administration Centre, and the history of Townsville’s water supply.
While the ceremonial council meeting provided the formal recognition of the T150 occasion, public celebrations will be held throughout the year.
T150 events will culminate with a blockbuster Defence Force Airshow and Townsville Bulletin Skyshow on October 15.
The calendar also includes a gala T150 concert at the Civic Theatre on April 2 starring David Campbell and a host of local born stars, a series of Townsville Yarns oral history events and a fantastic T150 Dinner Under The Stars along The Strand in September.
A highlight of the T150 year will be the re-creation of the much loved Pacific Festival - the annual festival that occurred every year for 21 years. This traditional parade and carnival will be held on The Strand and at Jezzine Barracks on June 4 and 5.
Throughout the year, the regular council events such as Heritage Day, Seniors Week and Eco Fiesta will also have a T150 flavour.
Community groups are also being urged to hop on the bandwagon by registering local events that have a T150 theme.
T150 Event Highlights Include:
T150 Yarn Series
30 March, 15 May, 19 July, 23 August,
28 September, 22 and 23 November,
Venue/s TBC
A series of engaging story-telling events held around
the city, told live by a panel of local and
visiting identities.
T150 Variety Concert
2 April 2016, Townsville Civic Theatre
A night of entertainment celebrating the arts and cultural life of
the city over 150 years. Headline artist: David Campbell.
T150 4TOFM Pacific Festival
4-5 June 2016, The Strand and Jezzine Barracks
A re-creation of the city’s annual
traditional festival which ran for over
21 years. This two day event will include a community
parade of floats and bands, carnival, live entertainment and fireworks displays!
T150 Port of Townsville Gala Dinner Under the Stars
10 September 2016, The Strand
Join us for the black tie gala event of the year.
This momentous occasion will pay tribute to
one of the biggest gala outdoor events ever
staged in the city, the Longest Dinner on the
Strand, which was conducted to officially
open the Strand in 1999.
T150 Defence Force Air Show/Townsville Bulletin Sky Show
15 October 2016, The Strand, Jezzine Barracks and Cleveland Bay
Council in conjunction with the RAAF
will stage a major air show along The
Strand on Saturday 15 October 2016.
The event will be followed by fireworks
and live/simulcast music.
