Townsville History
Townsville was founded in 1864 as a port for the fledgling pastoral industry in North Queensland. Following the discovery of gold in the immediate hinterland at Ravenswood and then Charters Towers, the town developed into the principal centre and de facto capital of North Queensland.
The following pages provide a brief look into the timeline of our history.
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Traditional Landowners
Learn about the history of our traditional landowners. -
Townsville 1770 - 1900
Read a brief history of Townsville from 1770 to 1900. -
Townsville 1901 - 2003
Read a brief history of Townsville from 1900-2003. -
Townsville 2004 - present
Read a brief history of Townsville from 2004 to present.
Sounds on Flinders
We’re calling on local artists and venues to be part of the celebration and showcase the incredible talent that makes our city unique.
eNotices Incentive - Switch + Win!
Switch to eNotices for a chance to win a $250 Visa cash card! T&Cs apply.
Garage Sale Trail 2025
Council is proudly participating in the Garage Sale Trail 2025 – Australia’s largest celebration of secondhand, reuse, and community connection.
Get Ready Townsville
Sunday 2 November at Riverway - come along and find out how you can best prepare for North Queensland’s high-risk weather.
Get Ready Tipping Weekend
Prepare your home for the high-risk weather season by taking advantage of no-charge waste disposal during the Get Ready Tipping Weekend on 7-10 November 2025.