Council votes to name boardwalk in honour of ‘Pato’
Date published: 17 September 2025
Townsville City Council will formally recognise local rugby league great James "Jim" Paterson for his significant contribution to the game by naming a boardwalk linking the city to Townsville Country Bank Stadium in his honour.
Councillors today voted unanimously to name the existing pedestrian boardwalk linking Little Fletcher Bridge and Graham Murray Place, leading to the stadium, the “Jim Paterson Boardwalk”.
Signage installation works will soon get underway, with an official boardwalk naming celebration to take place in the coming months.
Born in South Townsville in 1934, Jim – also affectionately known as ‘Pato’ – enjoyed a humble upbringing that saw him walk barefoot through mudflats to attend South Townsville State School.
He lived a short distance from Victoria Park, home of the South Townsville rugby league team, with his early exposure to the Foley Shield competition setting the stage for a lifelong passion for the game.
Jim made his senior debut for South Townsville in 1953 and quickly rose through the ranks, representing Townsville and North Queensland in 1954.
A versatile player who moved to the forwards after debuting as five-eighth, Jim’s rugby league career spanned more than a decade and saw him become one of North Queensland’s most celebrated players.
He played for clubs across Queensland, including Rockhampton, Toowoomba Valleys, Innisfail, Herbert River, representing the state 24 times between 1958 and 1966, and playing as part of the historic 1959 Queensland team that defeated New South Wales in a full series.
He earned eight Test caps for Australia from 1959 to 1961, becoming Kangaroo No. 343, and was selected for the prestigious Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France in 1959.
In 1966, he captained North Queensland to a famous victory over Great Britain, cementing his legacy as a regional icon.
After retiring from playing in 1968, Paterson remained deeply involved in the sport as a selector for Townsville, Queensland Country, Queensland, and the Australian national team.
Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said Jim was well-known for his humility, dedication, and fierce loyalty to the North.
“Jim was known to often turn down offers from major Brisbane and Sydney clubs to remain loyal to North Queensland – he was as local as they come and his legacy lives on across our civic and sporting communities,” she said.
“Council is delighted to name this boardwalk, connecting the centre of our city to the stadium, in his honour.”
Jim passed away in 2019, aged 84.
