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Stories of Townsville

Historical Societies

Army Museum North Queensland

Army Museum North Queensland

Address: Jezzine Barracks, Mitchell Street, North Ward

Phone: 07 4721 1495

Open: Wednesday, Friday & Sunday 9am - 1pm

Website: www.amnq.org.au

The Army Museum North Queensland collects and exhibits objects & stories associated with the history of the Australian Army in North Queensland. We have three main galleries - 1. Colonial Era; 2. World War I and II; and 3. Post 1945.

CityLibraries Local Collection

CityLibraries Local Collection

Address: Level 1 Northtown, 280 Flinders Street, Townsville

Phone: 07 4727 9667

Open: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday. Closed Weekends and Public Holidays.

Email: historyandheritage@townsville.qld.gov.au

Discover the rich history of Townsville and the surrounding region online and in the Local Collection Room at Flinders Street library. Local History staff are available to assist you in the library, or you can email your query.

Townsville Family History Association NQ

Family History Association of North Queensland

Address: 5 Baker Street, Hermit Park

Phone: 07 4728 2833

Open: Saturday to Thursday 10am - 2pm

Website: www.fhanq.org

Family History Association has experienced volunteers to assist you to trace your ancestors through our vast library of books, microfiche/film and access to online databases. Special Interest Groups and workshops are also available. Visit their online catalogue: www.librarycat.org/lib/fhanq.

JCU Special Collections

JCU Special Collections

Email: specialcollections@jcu-au.libanswers.com

Open: Tuesday - Thursday 9.30am - 4pm; Friday 9.30am - 1pm

Website: www.jcu.edu.au/library/specials

The James Cook University Library Special collections of unique and rare resources including books, photographs, oral histories, ephemera, manuscripts and other archival material relating to life in the tropics with a focus on North Queensland. Digital collections are available through the online repository, NQHeritage@JCU.

 

Magnetic Museum

Magnetic Museum

Address: 11-15 Granite Street, Picnic Bay, Magnetic Island

Phone: 07 4778 5606

Open: 10am - 2pm daily Easter to Australia Day (closed Tues). Free admission.

Email: mihccmagneticmuseum@gmail.com

Situated in the History and Craft Centre, consisting of the Queensland State heritage-listed former Picnic Bay School and the relocated historic Butler Hut and Hayles Cottage. Magnetic Museum presents annual exhibitions and offers a public reading and research facility for those seeking specific information about Magnetic Island's heritage. An extensive collection of images illustrates Island settlement from the arrival of the first pioneer family in 1876.

Townsville Maritime Museum

Maritime Museum of Townsville

Address: 42-68 Palmer Street, South Townsville

Phone: 07 4721 5251

Open: 10am - 3pm daily. Closed Good Friday, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Website: www.tmml.org.au  

Established in 1986 and located on the south bank of Ross Creek, the museum is a treasure trove of historical artefacts and information that tells stories of our regional maritime past, present and future, such as the world wars, the Port’s development, shipwrecks and more. Suitable for all ages.

Museum of Tropical Queensland

Museum of Tropical Queensland

Address: 70-102 Flinders Street, Townsville

Phone: 07 4726 0600

Open: 9.30am - 5pm daily Closed Good Friday, Anzac Day (25 April), Christmas Day & Boxing Day

Website: www.mtq.qm.qld.gov.au

Heard about the mutiny on the Bounty? Did you know there's a little known sequel about the ship sent to capture the mutineers and return them to England? Find out about the HMS Pandora's tragic journey, discover the fate of the mutineers and see objects recovered from the shipwreck in the Museum's Pandora Gallery.

RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre

RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre

Address: RAAF Base, 386 Ingham Road, Garbutt

Phone: 07 4752 1516

Open: Tuesday & Thursday 9am - 12pm, Sunday 10am - 4pm. Groups by appointment

Website: www.airforce.gov.au/displays/raaf-base-townsville-0

RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage Centre features historical photographs, maps of WWII airfields, flying helmet display, Caribou display, library research, and memorial gardens.

The Diocese of North Queensland Archives and Research Centre

Address: St James Place, Level 1, 155-157 Denham Street, Townsville

Phone: 07 4771 4775 - Option 4

Open: 9.00am - 4.00pm Wednesday to Friday. Closed public holidays and weekends.

Website: www.anglicannq.org/governance/archives-and-records

The Anglican Diocese of North Queensland Archives and Research Centre contains historical information. These include correspondence, photographs, administration, and registry records from churches, parishes, schools, colleges, and institutions across North Queensland, the Cape, and Torres Strait Islands. Certificates and research tasks may incur service fees for data collection and copying.

Townsville Catholic Diocesan Archives

Address: 276 Stuart Drive, Wulguru

Phone: 07 4729 1392

Open: Access via appointment by emailing hlucas@tsv.catholic.org.au

Website: www.tsv.catholic.org.au/diocese/diocesan-office/archives-6znxmu/

The Diocesan Archives are reasonably well established. Unfortunately, because of financial constraints, an archivist is employed for only three days per week in the Diocese. The Archive holds records regarding the administration of the Diocese since its inception in 1930 and parish records going back to the earlier days when in the Rockhampton Diocese. It holds general material about Parishes and some Diocesan organisations and agencies. Some Baptismal and Confirmation Registers from the 1800s and more recently are held. More recent Baptismal and Confirmation, Marriage and Funeral registers are retained by individual parishes.

Townsville Heritage Centre

Address: 5 Castling Street, Townsville

Phone: 07 4771 5873

Open: Wednesday 10am - 1pm, Saturday 2pm - 4pm. Entry Fees Apply.

Website: www.nationaltrust.org.au/educationprograms/townsville-heritage-centre/

The nineteenth-century villa residence ‘Currajong’, a worker’s dwelling dating from 1884 and a 1921 farmhouse are the three buildings that form the Townsville Heritage Centre. The Education Kit for the Centre, available here for teachers, covers several topics relevant to the school curriculum.

Townsville Museum & Historical Society

Address: 27 Barbeler Street, Currajong

Phone: 07 4775 7838

Open: Mon to Fri 9am - 2.30pm, 1st & 3rd Sun from February 1.30pm - 3.30pm Closed public holidays, Easter & Christmas.

Website: www.townsvillemuseum.com.au

Townsville Museum is dedicated to preserving the social and economic history of Townsville with artefacts and photos featured in two display halls. Small entry fee applies. Schools and group bookings welcome (by appointment).

The Monsoon Stories Collection was funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments. However, content in this Collection does not necessarily represent the views of either Government.
Townsville City Council acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, Bindal, Gugu Badhun and Nywaigi as the Traditional Owners of this Land. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders, past and present- and all future generations.