Council to upgrade heritage trails in lead up to GC2018
Date published: 18 April 2017
Six of Townsville’s heritage trails will be upgraded as a legacy of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (GC2018).
Townsville City Council and the Queensland Government will jointly fund the $145,000 project as part of round two of the Public Domain Improvement Program (PDIP).
Townsville City Council has secured funding to upgrade the self-guided walking trails from the current basic markers along streets to more comprehensive trails. There is a supporting phone application that will include photographs, anecdotes, stories and historical information about the area.
The six heritage trails are:
- Civic Pride
- Early Townsville
- South Townsville and the Port
- Life, death and memorialisation in early Townsville
- Townsville Women
- Publican’s Trail
Each point of interest along the trails will be identified on the pavement with a marker and in the phone application by co-ordinates.
Heritage Advisory Committee chair Kurt Rehbein said the trails would become permanent features of Townsville, providing cultural and educational benefits for tourists and local residents.
“This project will strengthen Townsville’s tourism attractions, both during the staging of GC2018 events and in the long term, creating a new visitor experience in Townsville’s CBD and offering flow-on effects to local retailers and tourism operators,” Cr Rehbein said.
“Each walking trail is designed as a journey of discovery that highlights important historic buildings, unique local stories and natural heritage.
“We hope the trails will become departure points that immerse visitors and residents in local history while encouraging them to engage further with the stories and information available at our local libraries and galleries.”
The Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games will run from 4 - 15 April 2018.
For more information on the Games, visit www.gc2018.com
