Anzac Memorial Park, Townsville facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Anzac Memorial Park
Anzac Memorial Park in 2019 & The W.J. Castling Memorial on right (1908)
Location	The Strand, Townsville CBD, City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1900 – 1914 (early 20th century)
Built	1912 -

Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Anzac Memorial Park and adjacent Banyan trees, The Strand Park, Townsville War Memorial
Type	state heritage (landscape, built)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600934
Significant period	1912– (social, historical) 1908, 1913, 1923–24, 1959, 1992 (fabric)
Significant components	memorial – fountain, commemorative plaque, bandstand/rotunda, memorial – other, park / green space, memorial – drinking fountain, memorial – clock tower, memorial – gate/s, garden – bed/s, trees/plantings

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Anzac Memorial Park is a special park and memorial located on The Strand in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It was first built in 1912. This park is also known as The Strand Park and Townsville War Memorial. It is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because of its historical importance.

History of Anzac Memorial Park

Anzac Memorial Park started as The Strand Park in the 1910s. However, the area along The Strand was used for fun and relaxation much earlier, from the 1860s. This was when Townsville was first settled.

In 1901, the entire foreshore area was set aside for public use. Then, in June 1912, a part of it became a permanent park.

Early Days of The Strand

By 1866, wealthy people in Townsville were building homes along the beach. By 1872, three hotels were built near where the park is today. The Strand was just a dirt track back then.

People enjoyed swimming at the beach from the late 1870s. In 1881, the town council planted 30 cedar trees. They added cocoa and betel nut trees in 1882. By 1883, a road was built along the beach to Kissing Point.

By 1889, The Strand was a beautiful place for walks. Old photos from 1888 show banyan trees that were already several years old.

Early Memorials and Features

One of the first things built was an ornamental fountain or bird-bath, seen by 1905. It stayed in the park until at least the 1950s.

In 1908, a drinking fountain was built near Queen's Hotel. This fountain was a memorial to William Joseph Castling. He was a butcher and a former Mayor of Townsville. This fountain was later moved to the western end of the park.

John Henry Tyack's Vision

John Henry Tyack was a key person in creating the formal park. He owned Queen's Hotel from 1899 to 1913. He was also a council member and mayor of Townsville in 1912. He had already rebuilt Queen's Hotel to be very grand.

In April 1912, during Tyack's time as mayor, the Townsville City Council asked for the foreshore to become The Strand Park. The Council had already spent a lot of money improving the area. In June, about 4.5 acres (1.8 hectares) became a permanent park.

The Bandstand

The idea for a new bandstand came up in 1901, but it wasn't built until 1913. Henry Tyack helped raise money from the public for it.

The bandstand was designed by Sydney architect Arthur Beckford Polin. He also designed the Queen's Hotel. The ironwork for the bandstand was made in Brisbane. It was the same design used on the Queen's Hotel.

The bandstand was almost finished when Tyack died in July 1913. It was officially opened on 27 September to honor his memory. It was used for band and singing concerts, especially in summer.

The bandstand was moved in 1959. This was to make space for the Queensland Centenary Fountain.

Townsville Bowls Club

In 1914–15, a bowling green and clubhouse were built at the southern end of The Strand Park. The Townsville Bowls Club leased this land from the City Council.

The first clubhouse was destroyed by Cyclone Althea in December 1971. The grass bowling green was replaced with an artificial one in 1992. In 1994, the land used by the bowls club was separated from the park's heritage listing.

Anzac Memorial Park and Esplanade, Townsville, circa 1935

Anzac Day and the Clocktower

From the 1920s, The Strand Park became a main place for Anzac Day ceremonies. In 1923–24, a memorial clocktower was built in the park. It was west of the bandstand.

Money for the clocktower came from public donations. It was designed and built by Melrose and Fenwick, stonemasons from Townsville. The monument was finished by Anzac Day 1924. The Governor of Queensland, Sir Matthew Nathan, officially opened it.

Park Improvements and Name Change

When the park first opened, a picket fence separated it from the road. By 1924, some of the timber fence was replaced with wrought-iron gates and fencing. These were near Queen's Hotel.

Also by 1924, several cannons were placed in the park. These were likely trophies from the First World War. The park had gas lamps and a children's playground. The early playground no longer exists.

In October 1925, the park was described as beautifully designed. It had ornamental trees, colorful shrubs, and green lawns. Hundreds of people came for the Sunday evening concerts. In the 1920s, the park was a popular tourist spot. It grew to over 6 acres (2.4 hectares) in July 1926.

In early 1934, the park's name was changed to Anzac Memorial Park. A metal arch with the new name was put above the entrance gates. This was ready for the Anzac Day events on April 25.

In April 1953, Anzac Memorial Park grew to 9 acres (3.6 hectares). In 1959, the bandstand was moved. This allowed for a new fountain to be built. This fountain celebrated 100 years since Queensland separated from New South Wales.

Cyclone Althea and Later Changes

In December 1971, Cyclone Althea caused a lot of damage to the park. Many old trees were destroyed. The Townsville City Council later put up a plaque in the park. It honored the Australian Army for helping Townsville recover after the cyclone.

Before the Battle of the Coral Sea Commemorations in 1992, the park's gardens were replanted. Most of the memorials were cleaned or repainted. A large Coral Sea Battle Memorial was built north of the Centenary Fountain. This memorial remembers Australian and American service members from the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942. Around the same time, a new children's play area was built.

What You'll See in Anzac Memorial Park

Anzac Memorial Park stretches along the foreshore, looking out over Cleveland Bay. You can see Magnetic Island from here. The park has a low concrete edge with small pillars. Steel chains connect these pillars along the sea front.

You'll find old banyan trees along The Strand, just outside the park. There are also garden beds along the street and throughout the park. Newer palm trees are scattered around too.

The park provides a lovely setting for important buildings nearby. These include the old Queen's Hotel and former Customs House.

Anzac Memorial Park has many important memorial structures:

The memorial Bandstand is in the middle of the eastern end of the park.
West of the bandstand are new gardens and a children's playground.
In the center of the park is the 1959 Queensland Centenary Fountain.
North of the fountain is the 1992 memorial to the Battle of the Coral Sea.
West of the fountain is the First World War Memorial.
At the western end of the park is the W J Castling Memorial.

These memorials are often set in paved areas within the park's grassy center.

Important Memorials in the Park

W J Castling Memorial, 1908

This memorial is a drinking fountain. It looks like a small classical building. It is made of yellow sandstone with white marble parts. It has four columns and a domed top. There is a basin on each side for drinking.

Bandstand, 1913

The bandstand is a square building with a pyramid-shaped roof. It has decorative cast iron panels and columns. These designs match those on the Queen's Hotel. The bandstand stands on a brick base about one meter above the ground. Inside, it has a wooden floor and a flat ceiling. The roof is made of corrugated iron.

First World War Memorial, 1923–24

This memorial is a tall column made of rough grey granite. It stands on a red and white marble base. White marble tablets are attached to the column. There are also four round bronze plaques on the column. These plaques show an eagle, crossed swords, an anchor, and the seal of Townsville. They used to be clock faces.

Queensland Centenary Fountain, 1959

This is a circular fountain about 1 meter high. It has water sprays in the center. It sits in a shallow pool. Water also sprays from a low ring around the edge of the pool.

Battle of the Coral Sea Memorial, 1992

This memorial has two low, curved walls that face each other. They surround a circular paved area. The walls are made of red granite. They have words and pictures carved into them that tell the story of the Battle of the Coral Sea. Inside the paved area are two short columns with bronze information plaques.

Why Anzac Memorial Park is Important

Anzac Memorial Park is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria.

Showing Queensland's History

Since the early 1900s, the park has been a central place for community events. It has many memorials that remember important people or events in Townsville's history. These include:

The W J Castling Memorial (1908)
The Bandstand (1913)
The First World War Memorial (1923–24)
The Queensland Centenary Fountain (1959)
The Battle of the Coral Sea Memorial (1992)

The First World War Memorial is a lasting reminder of how a big historical event affected the local area. Renaming the park to Anzac Memorial Park also shows the strong sense of Australian patriotism and national pride between the two World Wars.

The Queensland Centenary Fountain was Townsville City Council's main way to celebrate 100 years since Queensland became a separate colony from New South Wales in 1859.

The old banyan trees nearby are important because they are some of the earliest trees planted in Townsville's streets.

Unique Features and Design

The W J Castling Memorial and the Bandstand are beautifully detailed structures. They show the classical architectural styles popular in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. They reflect the tradition of building public structures in a grand, classical way.

The bandstand, in particular, is very pleasing to look at. It is a skillfully designed structure using classical architecture. Its main original parts are still in place. The W J Castling Memorial is also important for its excellent craftsmanship.

The First World War Memorial is a strong feature in Anzac Park. Its beauty and craftsmanship add a lot to the park's overall look.

Community Connection

The park's creation was strongly linked to John Henry Tyack, a civic leader and hotel owner. It was also connected to the rebuilding of the Queen's Hotel across the street. For the first half of the 20th century, the park was one of Townsville's main tourist attractions.

Anzac Memorial Park is important because of its connection to The Strand and Cleveland Bay foreshore. This area was one of the first places in Townsville where people went for recreation.

Since the early 1900s, the park has been a central place for community events. It has many memorials that remember important people or events in Townsville's history. These include the W J Castling Memorial (1908), the Bandstand (1913), the First World War Memorial (1923–24), the Queensland Centenary Fountain (1959), and the Battle of the Coral Sea Memorial (1992).