The Strand, Townsville

The Strand has been a part of Townsville's history since the city was founded in the mid-19th century.

A public outdoor swimming baths were first constructed between 1886 and 1889.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61750108 |title=Barges on The Strand |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXIII |issue=198 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=18 August 1941 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} About {{convert|6|-|8|ft}} deep, it was filled daily by tidal actions. The later 'City Baths' were established on the site. New baths were built between 1941 and 1950.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63095721 |title=Vandals score at new baths |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXX |location=Queensland, Australia |date=17 August 1950 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}} These were named the 'Tobruk Memorial Baths' in memory of those at the 1941 Siege of Tobruk.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63389218 |title="Tobruk" name of high honour |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXXI |location=Queensland, Australia |date=27 November 1951 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In 1891, military fortifications were established at Kissing Point, a rocky headland at the north-west end of the Strand. Jezzine Barracks was closed in 2007, to become the home of the Army Museum of North Queensland.

By 1929, a branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association built the Pioneer Women's Memorial Building with five seaside huts on Mitchell Street, Kissing Point.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72049696 |title=CWA |newspaper=The Capricornian |volume=54 |issue=22 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=30 May 1929 |access-date=5 November 2022 |page=67 |via=National Library of Australia}} This included a 'sharkproof' enclosure for swimming, which required repair from time to time.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62494831 |title=C.W.A. Kissing Point Baths again sharkproof |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXXIII |location=Queensland, Australia |date=10 June 1953 |access-date=5 November 2022 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23127334 |title=The Huts at Kissing Point |newspaper=The Queenslander |location=Queensland, Australia |date=21 August 1930 |access-date=5 November 2022 |page=51 |via=National Library of Australia}}{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article97009769 |title=More Members, Branches and Hostels |newspaper=Queensland Country Life |volume=17 |issue=45 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=22 May 1952 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=9 |via=National Library of Australia}}

A number of persons were killed by sharks over the years on The Strand. The first recorded fatality was on 9 November 1916 at Kissing Point, and another followed the next morning nearby.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61379868 |title=Shark victims |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LV |issue=6 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=7 January 1933 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} September 1918 saw another fatal attack near the Sea View Hotel, in {{convert|30|in}} of water. A fourth fatality was about {{convert|200|yd}} from Kissing Point in January 1933.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article61377734 |title=Shark tragedy |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LV |issue=4 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=5 January 1933 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}} Another reported fatal mauling was located beside the Kissing Point Baths swimming enclosure on 22 October 1951.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63396150 |title=Shark fatality at Kissing Point |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXXI |location=Queensland, Australia |date=23 October 1951 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In July 1935 it was believed a forty-three-year-old woman with a child walked off the Melton Hill cliff, over {{convert|81|ft}} high, opposite the City Baths.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article62406361 |title=The Strand tragedy |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LVII |issue=200 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=22 August 1935 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}} (Even then, the cliff had Bougainvillea creepers.)

By 1951, the Kissing Point swimming enclosure was also known as the RAAF Pool when netting was erected during World War II when the Royal Australian Air Force station was a naval area.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63389197 |title=Another "kill" to R.A.A.F |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXXI |location=Queensland, Australia |date=27 November 1951 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}

Jellyfish stings have also been present along the beach over time.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63074268 |title=The Townsville Daily Bulletin Monday, December 19, 1949 |newspaper=Townsville Daily Bulletin |volume=LXIX |location=Queensland, Australia |date=19 December 1949 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}

In January 1956, a twenty-seven-year-old stockman pleaded guilty for the murder of a twelve-year-old female school student.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79259415 |title=Plea of guilty entered on Townsville murder charge |newspaper=The Central Queensland Herald |volume=22 |issue=1953 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=19 January 1956 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}} She had been attacked and strangled at Kissing Point in December 1955.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article79258593 |title=Murder of Townsville schoolgirl Stockman Arrested After Intensive Investigation |newspaper=The Central Queensland Herald |volume=22 |issue=1951 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=5 January 1956 |access-date=6 November 2022 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia}} The offender died in prison in April 2010, and considered to have spent more time in custody than anyone else in Queensland.{{cite web |title=Inquest into the death of Edward Arthur Anthony RAWLINS |url=https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/93842/cif-rawlins-eaa-20110601.pdf |website=Queensland Courts |publisher=State of Queensland |access-date=5 November 2022 |format=PDF |date=1 June 2011}}

The current foreshore was opened in 1999 after the old foreshore was severely damaged and eroded after heavy rainfall and wind from Tropical Cyclone Sid in January 1998 and other monsoonal storms between 1997 and 1998. It was moderately damaged by Cyclone Tessi in April 2000.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

The Strand was the 'cauldron stop' for Townsville, during the Australian leg of the 2000 Sydney Olympics Torch Relay.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

The Strand held the 2001 Centenary of Federation events, including a fireworks display and skyshow which attracted a crowd of around 86,000.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

The Strand was named Australia's cleanest Beach in 2008. This was the second time the award was given to the beach in five years.{{Cite news|date=18 September 2008|title=Australia's cleanest beach named|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/travel/activities--interests/beaches--islands/australias-cleanest-beach-named/2008/09/18/1221330983460.html|accessdate=7 September 2011}}

An Anzac Day march in 2009 attracted 20,000 people to The Strand.{{Cite news|author=Winsome Denyer|date=25 April 2009|title=Anzac Parade 2009, Townsville's Strand|work=ABC North Queensland|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2009/04/25/2552547.htm|accessdate=7 September 2011}}

In 2010, {{A$}}35 million was spent on redeveloping the foreshore.{{cite news|author=Adam Wratten|date=4 March 2010|title=Townsville shows Rocky the way|newspaper=The Bulletin|url=http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2010/03/04/townsville-shows-rocky-the-way/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706113612/http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/story/2010/03/04/townsville-shows-rocky-the-way/|archive-date=6 July 2011|accessdate=23 February 2011}} An estimated 80,000 people turned out on the opening weekend, which included numerous events including a pyrotechnics and fireworks display, and a skyshow.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

Image:The Rock Pool.jpgAnzac Memorial Park began as The Strand Park in the 1910s as a place for the residents of Townsville to visit and enjoy.  In September 1913, a bandstand, designed by Sydney architect A.B. Polin, was officially opened by the Mayor, Alderman R.W. McLelland, and dedicated to the memory of the late Alderman J.H. Tyack.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=http://onesearch.slq.qld.gov.au/permalink/f/1oppkg1/slq_blogs2817|title=A century-old political controversy|author=Trisha Fielding|date=15 March 2012|website=Blog|access-date=18 May 2022}} The park was progressively expanded and developed and from the 1920s became a focus for the city's ANZAC Day activities.  Reflective of this important use, the park was formally renamed the ANZAC Memorial Park in 1934.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/queensland-place-histories-strand-townsville|title=Queensland Place Histories: The Strand, Townsville|author=Brian Randall|date=25 June 2012|website=John Oxley Library blog|access-date=29 July 2021}}

The Telecasters North Queensland Building was previously the Queens Hotel.  This building was built in stages between 1902 and the 1920s by publican John Tyack, to the design of prominent architectural firm Eaton, Bates and Polin.  The hotel soon acquired a reputation as being one of the finest hotels in North Queensland.

The Tobruk Memorial Baths were built between 1941 and 1950, with early construction slowed as a result of the Second World War.  The Baths were designed and built by the Townsville City Council's engineering and works department and named the Tobruk Memorial Baths in honour of the Australian servicemen who had taken part in the Siege of Tobruk.

Other recreational features include:{{Cite web|date=2021-07-27|title=The Strand & Beaches|url=https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/parks-beaches-and-community-venues/the-strand-and-beaches |access-date=2021-07-29|website=Townsville City Council|language=en-AU}}

• Oceanway pavement
• Rockpool
• Barbecue areas
• Surf Lifesaving Club
• Strand Park
• Waterpark
• Ocean Siren, a water sculpture by Jason deCaires Taylor modelled on twelve-year-old indigenous Wulgurukaba girl Takoda Johnson, which changes colour based on the water temperature measured nearby{{cite web|url=https://www.getlostmagazine.com/category-highlight/the-great-barrier-reefs-underwater-museum/|title=The Great Barrier Reef's underwater museum, Townsville, Queensland|magazine=Get Lost|access-date=20 April 2022}}

Since the opening of the Strand, the foreshore has been used for many annual or monthly events. The fourth Friday of each month sees Strand Park used for Nightmarkets, which is a popular festivity among the local residents. Other events include the annual Townsville City Council Run Christmas events, Carols by Candlelight and Stable on the Strand, as well as a fireworks display and gathering on New Year's Eve. One example of a bi-annual event is the Strand Ephemera, wherein local and regional artists display their works along the foreshore. Some works from this event have become permanent on the foreshore, including the Silver Coconuts near the Rock Pool.{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070828224920/http://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/strand/ Council site]
• [http://www.stableonthestrand.com.au/ Stable On The Strand]
• [https://www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/queensland-place-histories-strand-townsville Queensland Place Histories: The Strand, Townsville] - John Oxley Library blog, State Library of Queensland.

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Category:Tourist attractions in Queensland

Category:Townsville