Municipality of Townsville - History in Pictures
On February 15, 1866, Townsville was declared a municipality by Queensland Governor Sir George Ferguson Bowen, with a proclamation published in the Queensland Government Gazette on March 10, 1866.
Hand coloured woodcut of Townsville, North Queensland. ca. 1870. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 7807-0001-0003
Hand coloured woodcut of Townsville, North Queensland. ca. 1870. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 7807-0001-0003
In November the previous year, 195 householders and landholders of Townsville petitioned the Queensland Government, requesting Townsville to be made a municipality - "The Petitioners state that the increasing importance of this town, in point of commerce and trade, renders them anxious to secure the benefits of Municipal Government, and they therefore pray that Townsville may be declared a Municipality". Several prominent Townsville residents signed the petition including Spencer Frederick Walker, businessman and later mayor of Townsville and Mark Watt Reid, local station manager.
Petition from Townsville resident requesting Townsville be made a municipality. Published in the Queensland Government Gazette, November 11, 1865
Petition from Townsville resident requesting Townsville be made a municipality. Published in the Queensland Government Gazette, November 11, 1865
State Library of Queensland holds a myriad of materials (photographs, books, diaries, personal papers and more) related to the history and development of Townsville. Some of these collections have been digitised and can be viewed online through our One Search catalogue.
Below is a sample of digitised photographs from our collection related to Townsville -
View of three hotels along the Strand taken from the mouth of Ross Creek, Townsville ca. 1873. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 24407
Beach and hinterland at Townsville, ca.1878. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APO-008-01-0027
View from Queens Hotel looking up the hill Townsville ca. 1881. Bank of New South Wales building is in the centre foreground and two large buildings are pictured centre left. There are several homes scattered up the hill and an unsealed road forms the street. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APO-022-0001-0045
View from Queens Hotel looking up the hill Townsville ca. 1881. Bank of New South Wales building is in the centre foreground and two large buildings are pictured centre left. There are several homes scattered up the hill and an unsealed road forms the street. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APO-022-0001-0045
Early scene of Townsville suburb, The Breakwater ca. 1890. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image API-057-01-0008
Panoramic view of Townsville's North Shore ca. 1890. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image API-057-01-0007
Staff infront of Samuel Allen General Merchants store, Townsville ca. 1898. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 203506
Bush House at the Townsville Botanical Gardens ca.1900. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APE-082-0001-0004
Members of the Tunbridge family on the back verandah of Wolverton, Townsville ca. 1900. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APE-082-0001-0011
Fishing in the river near Townsville ca. 1900. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. APA-019-01-0016
Customs House, Townsville. Undated. Situated on the Corner of Wickham St and the Strand, it was built in 1902. John Oxley, State Library of Queensland. Neg 7668
Hoisting the flag on Federation Day, January 1901 in Townsville, Queensland. This ceremony was taking place on Federation Day on the corner of Denham and Flinders Streets, Townsville. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 24459
Road from town to the Townsville jetty, 1902. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APO-015-0001-0008
Partially destroyed Townsville Grammar School after Cyclone Leonta 1903. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 166424
Lowth Hotel in Townsville 1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 204722
Panoramic view of Townsville showing Castle Hill ca. 1905. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 194762
Federation parade in Flinders Street, Townsville, Queensland 1910. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 120568
Costume display inside Lennon's Drapers & Footwear Importer in Townsville, 1913. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image 10152-0001-0005
First troops leaving Townsville Queensland bound for Thursday Island 1914. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 25535
Aerial view of Townsville featuring Ross Creek and Flinders Street, ca. 1920. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 65562
Townsville Baptist Church 1923. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 43655
Railway strike at the Waterside Workers Union headquarters, Townsville 1925. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Image APA-063-0001-0032
Flinders Street in Townsville in 1929. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 62506
Queen's Hotel, Townsville ca. 1934. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 204621
Outlook over the carpark on top of Castle Hill, Townsville ca. 1936. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 204556
Inner Harbor, Townsville 1938. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 203507
War correspondent Earl Crotchett on crutches on the steps of the Queens Hotel in Townsville 1942. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 99779
Flooded business premises, South Townsville 1946. Neg 204608
Interior of Townsville library ca. 1948. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 184898
Groper fish caught in the Haughton River Townsville District ca. 1950. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 41290
Aerial view of Townsville, 1954. John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland. Neg 201952
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Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
We also welcome direct feedback via Contact Us.
You may also want to ask our librarians.
The photograph captioned "Business Premises, South Townsville, 1946" The caption is incorrect the street and buildings are Ogden Street and are in the center of Townsville city and are not at all in South Townsville. All the buildings on the left were still in situ during the 1950's when I was a child. The igloo style building at that time was the taxi depot either or both Black and White Taxis or Standard Taxis. The photographer was standing on the footpath of the original Victoria Bridge in Stokes Street. The bridge went across Ross Creek to South Townsville. The two story red brick bldg at the far end of Ogden St is Townsville Central Railway Station which faces into Flinders Street the main st. Cheers
Hi Jeff,
The State Library of Queensland relies on your contributions to local knowledge. Thank you for bringing our attention to the caption on this photograph.
- Heidi Stevens
Wonderful to be able to look and see the History of Townsville's past.