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Townsville 1770 - 1900

In 1770, Captain James Cook sailed along the east coast of Australia and named coastal features in this region including Cape Cleveland, Cleveland Bay and Magnetic (al) Island.

While he did not land in the region, he noted use of the land by Indigenous inhabitants.

In 1819, botanist Alan Cunningham and Captain Phillip Parker King were the first Europeans to record a landing in Cleveland Bay. They collected botanical specimens to take back to England.

In 1846, James Morrill was one of 14 crew members on board the barque, the Peruvian which was shipwrecked on the Great Barrier Reef. Cast ashore near Cape Bowling Green 42 days after the wreck, he was the first European to inhabit the area for an extended period of time.

In 1864, John Melton Black, then in partnership of Robert Towns, despatched Andrew Ball, Mark Watt Reid from Woodstock Station (south west of Townsville) to search for a coastal site where a suitable port could be established. Ball's party reached the mouth of Ross Creek in April 1864 and they set up camp below the rocky spur of Melton Hill (near the present Customs House on the Strand). After further exploration of the surrounding area, Ball returned to Woodstock Station and reported the discovery of a site for a settlement.

The first party of settlers, led by WA Ross, arrived at Cleveland Bay from Woodstock Station on the 5th November. Andrew Ball helped establish the settlement that would become Townsville.

During 1865, the first road to the hinterland was opened. This provided pastoral properties in the hinterland with direct access to the Port.

The first sale of allotments on Cleveland Bay was held at Bowen on 31 July 1865. James Morrill was permitted to select and purchase an allotment at an upset price.

Cleveland Bay was declared a Port of Entry on 23 September 1865.

In 1866, Robert Towns, entrepreneur and businessman agreed to provide financial assistance to the new settlement. Although he only visited Townsville briefly, the settlement was named Townsville in his honour. Towns died in 1873. A memorial to him is located at the top of Castle Hill.

Townsville was declared a municipality in February 1866, with John Melton Black elected first Mayor of the new municipality. It was also the year the first steamship arrived in the port.

A boiling down works was established at Hermit Park, sugar plantations were established at Hyde Park and Hermit Park, and a cotton plantation was established at Railway Estate.

The first newspaper, the Cleveland Bay Herald, was distributed on 3 March 1866 and in the same year, the West End Cemetery was established. It operated as Townsville's General Cemetery until 1902.

By 1868, Townsville was the major port and service centre for the Cape River, Gilbert, Ravenswood, Etheridge and Charters Towers goldfields. The pastoral industry extended further to the west, and the sugar industry expanded in coastal towns both north and south of Townsville. By the end of 1867, Townsville’s population was approximately 300 people.

In 1869, the National School opened in North Ward. It was located near the Leichhardt Street and Eyre Street roundabout.

In 1873, increased maritime activities prompted an attempt to develop the western side of Ross Creek seawards along the line of the present breakwater. When the attempt failed the Government stepped in to improve existing harbour facilities.

The first mail steamer arrived via Torres Strait.

In 1873, James Burns set up a mercantile business in Townsville. When he went into partnership with Robert Philp the manager of his Townsville operations in 1877 the business became Burns Philp and Company.

From 1868 to 1872, Townsville's population grew to around 2000 people.

In 1876, Harry Butler and his family came to Picnic Bay and became the first permanent white settlers on Magnetic Island.

In 1876, the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland was founded and the census listed the population as consisting of 1148 females and 1527 males.

In 1876, the North Queensland Pastoral and Agricultural Association was formed. The first show was held in 1876 at the Botanical Gardens Reserve. The industrial and horticultural exhibits were displayed in the old Supreme Court building on Melton Hill which was then the School of Arts.

In 1878, construction began on Townsville's first prison. The prison was situated in North Ward and was superseded by a new prison at Stewarts Creek (now Stuart Creek) in 1891. The original prison's administration block is now used by the Central State School and parts of the prison wall can still be seen in the grounds of the school.

A major fire destroyed a number of commercial premises between Stokes and Denham Street in 1877. A second fire in 1878 damaged the Town Council offices, with a large number of Council records lost.

In 1879, the Thuringowa Divisional Board was created. The board covered an area of approximately 3219 square kilometres. The area included Ross Island, Hermit Park, Magnetic Island, extended to Crystal Creek to the north; to the Burdekin River in the south; and to the top of the range near Mingela.

The first bridge from Flinders Street to Ross Island (now South Townsville) was completed but subsequently dismantled as prior to its opening major flaws in the mechanisms of the drawbridge winches were discovered.

In 1880, a railway was constructed to the Reid River and Townsville's first Railway Station was constructed on the corner of Jones and Flinders Streets.

In 1881, the Townsville Show was held for the first time on its present site on Ingham Road.

In 1882, the railway was extended to Charters Towers to service the booming goldfield.

The first stage of the North Ward Townsville Hospital was completed. The two storey brick building accommodated 70 patients. Also in that year the Townsville Turf Club moved to Cluden from Cleveland Park in Garbutt. Townsville's population grew to 4000 people.

In 1883, the first Land Office was built and the first secondary school The Grammar School, opened in temporary premises in Flinders Street. In 1885, the school traded 25 acres of land at Kissing Point for 10 acres of Council owned land at the northern end of the gardens and recreation reserve. Construction commenced on a new school which opened its doors on the 16th April 1888. The original ‘School House’ still stands proudly on the school grounds.

In 1886, the coastline of Magnetic Island was surveyed by J.G. O'Connell. Surveyor J G O’Connell reported on the 25th October 1886 that five different parties were settled round the Island and that Picnic Bay was the favourite resort of Townsville holiday makers. The first freehold auction offered town lots at Picnic Bay in 1887.

In 1887, work commenced on the Victoria Bridge built to link Flinders Street with Ross Island. The bridge was a swing bridge designed to allow shipping to sail upstream. It is one of only two of its type constructed in Australia. It opened in 1889 but by 1924 the swing section ceased to function and continued to serve solely as a road bridge until 1975. It was redeveloped in 1988 as a pedestrian bridge and again in later years to the form it is today.

A dedication service was held on the site of the proposed St James Cathedral on 21 June 1887.

Townsville's water supply came from Willmett's Well, opposite Mundingburra school, and Hubert Well, three to four miles from the town. The pumps were capable of lifting 864,000 gallons of water in 24 hours.

In 1890, the Alligator Creek Meatworks commenced operation. The meatworks produced hides, fertilisers and glue basics. A meat preservation company also commenced operation.

The Council Baths were built on The Strand. Gender restrictions were the rule, and women were only admitted on Tuesdays and Fridays. Other baths were later constructed including the City Baths 1910, Seaview Baths 1921, Queens Road in 1930, Rowes Bay in 1931 and at Kissing Point in 1933.

In 1891, a freezing works was established on the Ross. This was the first freezing works to be established in Queensland, allowing for the export meat trade from Townsville to the United Kingdom to commence.

The population of Townsville was 13,000 people.

In 1893, the State Minister for Lands declared that all land within 10 chains of the high water mark was to become the property of the future Harbour Board. No compensation was paid to the owners of the resumed land.

Andrew Ball, a prominent Townsville pioneer, died in 1894 and was buried at the West End Cemetery. Ball's Lane in Mundingburra is named after him. In more recent years, Andrew Ball Drive was named for him at Lavarack Barracks.

Cyclone Sigma struck the town on 26 January 1896. The cyclone caused 600,000 pounds of damage to Townsville and several lives were lost.

In 1896, the Townsville Harbour Board was formed following the development of port and shipping in the city.

In 1899, gold production was at a peak and the bulk of which was shipped through Townsville port. Hayles Magnetic Island Ferry Service began operation between Townsville and Magnetic Island in the same year.