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Port of Townsville
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Port of Townsville
Port of Townsville is a government-owned Corporation and seaport in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the third largest seaport in Queensland after Port of Brisbane and the Port of Gladstone. It is located south of the mouth of Ross Creek and north of the Ross River. Main shipping access is through Cleveland Bay. A second seaport, which only exports sugar is found about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Townsville at Lucinda and is also managed by Port of Townsville Limited.
The Port of Townsville is intrinsically linked to the sustainability of the North Queensland economy, and during 2023–24 handled $10 billion in trade. More than 30 different commodity types are imported and exported through Townsville including mineral ores, fertiliser, concentrates, sugar and motor vehicles. Townsville is the number one port in Australia for exports in copper, zinc, lead and sugar.
In 2017, just under 200,000 head of live cattle were shipped from the Port of Townsville, making it the second largest live export port in Australia after Darwin.
The Port of Townsville's Berth 10 was specifically designed to accommodate the Royal Australian Navy's new LHD vessels, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra and the port also accommodates US Navy on rest and recuperation in Townsville.
The establishment of the Townsville port site in 1864 was made to serve the hinterland pastoral properties (producing wool and meat products) that later provided the impetus for the birth of Townsville. The establishment, planning and development of the port was undertaken by an entrepreneur, John Melton Black, with financial backing by Robert Towns, a wealthy businessman based in New South Wales.
Black constructed the first wharf in 1864 for facilitating wool exports. The port was officially recognised by the Queensland Government on 10 October 1865, when it was gazetted as a Port of Entry. A year later a township was established, named after Robert Towns.
Development of the port during the early years was slow, mirroring the hesitant growth of the town. This changed during 1867–1871, when discoveries of payable gold in the Queensland hinterland at Palmer River, Ravenswood and Charters Towers rescued the port and the town from decline by opening up new opportunities in goods and passenger trade. This triggered the construction of the first railway lines. The first one to be completed was the one from Townsville to Charters Towers in 1882. By that time the port had emerged as the most important port in northern Australia.
After wool, sugar became the port's second export commodity, starting in 1872. This increased after World War I as global markets grew and more sugar mills were built in Queensland.
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Port of Townsville
Port of Townsville is a government-owned Corporation and seaport in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It is the third largest seaport in Queensland after Port of Brisbane and the Port of Gladstone. It is located south of the mouth of Ross Creek and north of the Ross River. Main shipping access is through Cleveland Bay. A second seaport, which only exports sugar is found about 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Townsville at Lucinda and is also managed by Port of Townsville Limited.
The Port of Townsville is intrinsically linked to the sustainability of the North Queensland economy, and during 2023–24 handled $10 billion in trade. More than 30 different commodity types are imported and exported through Townsville including mineral ores, fertiliser, concentrates, sugar and motor vehicles. Townsville is the number one port in Australia for exports in copper, zinc, lead and sugar.
In 2017, just under 200,000 head of live cattle were shipped from the Port of Townsville, making it the second largest live export port in Australia after Darwin.
The Port of Townsville's Berth 10 was specifically designed to accommodate the Royal Australian Navy's new LHD vessels, HMAS Adelaide and HMAS Canberra and the port also accommodates US Navy on rest and recuperation in Townsville.
The establishment of the Townsville port site in 1864 was made to serve the hinterland pastoral properties (producing wool and meat products) that later provided the impetus for the birth of Townsville. The establishment, planning and development of the port was undertaken by an entrepreneur, John Melton Black, with financial backing by Robert Towns, a wealthy businessman based in New South Wales.
Black constructed the first wharf in 1864 for facilitating wool exports. The port was officially recognised by the Queensland Government on 10 October 1865, when it was gazetted as a Port of Entry. A year later a township was established, named after Robert Towns.
Development of the port during the early years was slow, mirroring the hesitant growth of the town. This changed during 1867–1871, when discoveries of payable gold in the Queensland hinterland at Palmer River, Ravenswood and Charters Towers rescued the port and the town from decline by opening up new opportunities in goods and passenger trade. This triggered the construction of the first railway lines. The first one to be completed was the one from Townsville to Charters Towers in 1882. By that time the port had emerged as the most important port in northern Australia.
After wool, sugar became the port's second export commodity, starting in 1872. This increased after World War I as global markets grew and more sugar mills were built in Queensland.
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