ATTRACTIONS NORTH WARD QLD

The Army Museum of North Queensland is located within Jezzine Barracks, at Kissing Point in Townsville. The Museum collects and exhibits memorabilia associated with past and current Army units and personnel from North Queensland, including a geographic area between Rockhampton in the south, extending north to Torres Strait and west to the Northern Territory border.

The history of the Museum dates back to 1979, where the North Queensland Military Museum committee of management approached the Townsville Harbour Board with a request to obtain several door and lintel frames from the Magazine Island Battery. The Harbour board agreed and the items were incorporated into the reconstruction of 1980.

This allowed Fort Kissing Point to open as the North Queensland Military Museum until the 1st of August 2008, when it was closed for further restoration. Following the closure of the original Museum at the Kissing Point Forts and the handover of a majority of Jezzine Barracks to the Jezzine Barracks Community Trust, the retained Defence land within Jezzine Barracks underwent a significant period of refurbishment. North Queensland Military Museum, was renamed the Army Museum of North Queensland and relocated to its current premises in 2009.

Jezzine Barracks has been the home to Australian Army units for over 120 years and is now a fitting home to showcase the Museum and its extensive Collection of the history of the Army in North Queensland.

The Collections extends from the establishment of the first defences at Townsville and Thursday Island until the present day. The Museum is in the newly refurbished building at the centre of Jezzine Barracks. Showcased within the Museum is a gallery displaying pre-federation Army and a gallery showing more recent conflicts of Vietnam and Korea, and the history of Sir John Lavarack and Lavarack Barracks.

The earliest history of the Army in North Queensland can be traced back to the early 1880’s when volunteer independent Rifle Companies were formed at Charters Towers, Townsville, Bowen, Cairns, Cooktown, Hughenden, Ingham, Mackay Thursday Island and Ravenswood. On October 30"' 1886, the 3rd Queensland or Kennedy Regiment was gazetted, based at Kissing Point Townsville with Major William Slade Vincent as its first commanding officer.

Queens Gardens are one of three botanical gardens of Townsville, Queensland. Queens Gardens are located in the suburb of North Ward, at the base of Castle Hill, near to both the city centre and The Strand beachside park. They have been called Townsville's finest park. The park covers over four hectares. The garden is divided into quadrants, each with a central fountain. Special areas include a formal rose garden, the Herb Society's garden, the annuals garden beds, the 2 small hedge mazes, a rainforest walk and the black bean (also known as Moreton Bay chestnuts) avenue. There is also a small aviary featuring peacocks, lorikeets and sulfur-crested cockatoos.

The Townsville Tennis Centre, North Ward is the largest and most modern tennis centre in North Queensland. It is located only five minutes from Central Business District and 10 minutes from Townsville airport. The centre has 12 plexipave tennis courts and all are lit for night play. The centre has also a clubhouse, a bar and barbecue facilities. It caters for corporate social functions, public court hire, coaching of juniors and adults. At the centre a comprehensive junior development program is conducted as well as night fixtures and daytime ladies fixtures and premier league. Public is most welcome.

Gallery 48 is located in unit 2 at 48 The Strand, Townsville. It is run by artists for artists.

We exhibit regular exhibitions featuring mainly local artists. Artists are invited from other regions from time to time.

The Drill Hall Studio is situated in a striking Colonial era former Military Drill Hall, built in 1905. One of only two pre-Federation military Drill Halls left in Queensland, The Drill Hall studio is Townsville’s newest art centre featuring a sculpture garden, exhibition space, working artist studios as well as retail art,  hand made gifts, accessories for you and your home, unique decor, art  jewellery and designer clothing.

Our aim is to make art accessible for everyone, with a friendly, creative atmosphere and a gallery that’s warm and inviting.