The Early Townsville Heritage Trail reveals the city's earliest port-related commercial precinct in the original ‘heart of the city’. The 30 minute, 800m walk follows trail 2 of 3 heritage trails developed by the Townsville City Council.
It traces the 1880's transformation of the Flinders Street East precinct from single storey timber structures into one and two storey masonry buildings. Reflected in the fabric and function of these buildings are glimpses of Townsville's early character and development. The walk passes close to Townsville's top regional attractions, the aquaruim and the museum.
Townsville's first European contact occurred in 1819 when Allan Cunningham, aboard the survey vessel Mermaid, landed on Cape Cleveland. A further 45 years elapsed before John Melton Black and his partner Robert Towns, founded Townsville in November 1864. Originally Townsville was a slowly developing seaport with pastoralists settling in the hinterland. Following the discovery of gold in 1867 it developed rapidly and by 1880 was the port for five major goldfields and the main supply centre of northern Australia. Later it became the centre for rich sugar growing districts to the north and south.
Today, Townsville is a vibrant modern city and the administrative centre of North Queensland, but it still preserves for further information on a rich heritage from its golden past.
This wherigo guides you along the 800m trail and requires you to read plaques to answer questions about 18 historic buildings before revealing the location of the cache at another historic site nearby.
If any of the historic plaques are missing please let me know.
Enjoy the walk.
Congratulations to Karicka for being the FTF.
