Townsville City takes its name from Robert Towns, a merchant and entrepreneur, who was a pioneer financial supporter of pastoral development around the Ross River area.[2]
Services of worship for members of the Baptist Church commenced in Townsville in January 1888 in rented premises. In 1891 the Townsville Baptist Church bought the land and two cottages (at the rear of the allotment) from the original landholder, Duncan McVean, for £500. At the time the allotment took up one half of the length of Fletcher Street between Sturt and Walker streets (19°15′54″S146°48′36″E / 19.2650°S 146.8099°E / -19.2650; 146.8099 (Townsville City Baptist Church (former))).[6] In September 1893, a vacant Congregationalist church building in Denham Street and its contents were purchased and re-erected on the Sturt Street site.[7][8] The first service was held on Thursday 23 November 1893.[9][10][11] In January 1903 the building was damaged by Cyclone Leonta. What could be salvaged was used to erect a church hall. A building fund was set up for a new church and hall, but it was not until 1922 that a replacement church was built. Having insufficient funds for new bricks, a disused powder magazine, eight miles from Townsville at Brookhill and purchased and the congregation dismantled and cleaned around 30,000 bricks.[6] In December 1921, tenders were called to erect a new brick church adjacent to the former church.[12] The building contract was signed for £832/6/- and the foundation stone was laid on 8 July 1922.[6][13][14] The new church opened on Saturday 23 September 1922.[15][16] In 1981, the land and buildings were sold because the Townsville City Baptist Church and the Currajong Baptist Church were both too small, so the congregations decided to combine and bought a new property at Kirwan.[6]
In the 2011 census, the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,500 people.[18]
In the 2016 census, the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,910 people.[19]
In the 2021 census, the suburb of Townsville City had a population of 2,945 people.[1]
Built environment
The dominant land use in the Townsville CBD (Central Business District) is commercial but with a growing residential aspect. Office buildings include Northtown Office Tower, Verde Tower (Queensland State Government), 420 on Flinders (Ergon Energy and National Australia Bank, and Central Plaza (Drake International). Some companies that have offices in the CBD include Wilmar International, RID Insect Repellent, Suncorp Insurance, Adani Australia.
Townsville City is home to many regional offices of government organisations as well as many private companies, serving as a hub for northern Queensland. There has been extensive construction in the city centre over the last 20 years. As of 2020 some new projects include Flinders Lane,[20] a new home for the Australian Taxation Office[21] and recently completed is the Queensland Country Bank Stadium that opened 29 February 2020 with a concert by Elton John. In coming years new projects under construction will include new offices for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,[22] a new access stairway to Castle Hill,[23] and completion of the Townsville Courthouse upgrade.
^"Queensland". The Week. Vol. XXXVI, no. 924. Queensland, Australia. 8 September 1893. p. 27. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"QUEENSLAND". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. L, no. 11, 186. Queensland, Australia. 20 November 1893. p. 5. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"SUMMARY OF NEWS". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. L, no. 11, 190. Queensland, Australia. 24 November 1893. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 29 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"1893 Townsville". Baptist Church Archives Queensland. Archived from the original on 26 November 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
^"Advertising". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXXVII, no. 12411. Queensland, Australia. 14 December 1921. p. 5. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Advertising". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 12, 352. Queensland, Australia. 23 September 1922. p. 5. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Church Services". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXXVIII, no. 12, 352. Queensland, Australia. 23 September 1922. p. 4. Archived from the original on 27 April 2022. Retrieved 1 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Our Story". The Cathedral School. Archived from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2022.