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determined the disordered layout of
Townsville's streets and in the late 19th century was frequented for recreational pursuits such as botanising and nature study. Townsville residents also illegally plundered timber and firewood from Castle Hill. Wild goats further ravaged the native vegetation. By the late 1880s the Townsville Herald (1822–97) voiced considerable public outrage at the continued denudation of Castle Hill. These concerns were part of Queensland-wide debates on forest resource use and conservation. In an innovative approach to conservation, the Townsville Municipal Council applied to the Crown to establish the Hill as a reserve under their protective trusteeship, and on 30 June, Castle Hill was gazetted a Recreation Reserve of 228 hectares (560 acres). However, despite the appointment of Crown Land Rangers and later, a Conservator of Trees for Castle Hill, the council was able to do little to restore the tree cover of the reserve during the depression years of the 1890s. Alderman Edward Downs and EJ Banfield privately planted various trees through the 1890s, including the surviving banyans, but by the 20th century, popular interest in preserving the natural vegetation of Castle Hill had waned. Small areas of the reserve were excised in the 1890s for water reserves and quarrying, but by 1900 it remained an unimproved reserve of close to 215 hectares (530 acres).
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333:. The Goat Track is a rough path that consists of 758 individual stairs from start to finish. Castle Hill is also a popular tourist site. Education groups regularly using the reserve to study natural environments, community history and urban geography. The North Queensland Conservation Council is undertaking a voluntary bush rejuvenation program of the site.
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area in April 1864. The settlement established here was known initially as
Castletown, until the name was replaced by Townsville in 1865. The hill became a much admired local landmark, evoking aesthetic delight and a unique sense of identity. This prominent link between urban life and nature largely
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Since the 1950s areas from within the recreation reserve, including the summit, were excised for a variety of purposes: further water reserves and quarrying, a restaurant, car parking, communications installations and residential subdivision. By 1972 the
Recreation Reserve had been reduced to about
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It was not until
October 1947 that the Council discussed where to place the monument. A number of locations were considered: Castle Hill, the Botanic Gardens, in front of the Queens Hotel, the Anzac Memorial Park and the Railway Oval, but Castle Hill was ultimately the council's choice. In February
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There are several buildings and installations on the hill. On the southern face was a two-storeyed octagonal building of concrete block work, which formerly housed the
Panorama Restaurant, which has now been demolished. A carpark associated with the former restaurant is located nearby to the north.
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Castle Hill has formerly also been known locally as
Cutheringa, Cudtheringa, Cootharinga, and Mt Cutheringa. The Aboriginal history associated with Cutheringa has not been recorded, but its name survives as one of only two known Australian Indigenous place names in the Townsville region, the other
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were deployed on the hill, and the observation post they constructed remains. In 1942 a radar station was established on the summit, and searchlights extended halfway up the hill. The road up Castle Hill was closed to traffic on 12 March 1942 to enable the construction of the above-ground Green
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Only into the 1930s did the
Council appear to directly address the Castle Hill environment. The goats were removed, permitting natural revegetation and in 1935-36 a road to the summit was constructed as an employment generating scheme, partly funded by the Main Roads Commission. Hynes Road (now
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decided to replace that cemetery with parkland (called
Pioneers Memorial Park). The plans were advertised and families were invited to arrange for re-interment of bodies or removal of memorials. In 1941, the Leichhardt Council offered the memorial from the grave of
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23/10/-. The decision to accept the monument was opposed by two councillors, one claiming that Robert Towns had done nothing for
Townsville and it was only sheer good luck that caused the city to bear his name. A local resident, Tom Gleeson, proposed
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sp. nov. (Poaceae), both endemic to Castle Hill and currently being examined for description as new species; and Trodia stenostachya (Poaceae), a hummock grass community which represents an unusual coastal occurrence of this more typically inland
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143 hectares (350 acres). In 1983 a further 33 hectares (82 acres) were granted to
Yarrawonga Pty Ltd under special lease as a potential development site. The Yarrawonga subdivision is situated in the foothills of Castle Hillviews of
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Other structures on the site include several water reservoirs and three radio communication installations. On the northernmost peak of the summit is a 1942 observation post, a low, square, concrete bunker with observation apertures.
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with small areas of duplex soils. There are three peaks to the summit. There is a former quarry site on the southern slopes, accessed via Stagpole Street, and on the northern cliff face a large graffiti on 'The Saint' is painted.
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spp. (E. drepaniphylla, E. dolichocarpa, E. tessellaris, E. Platyphylla, E. papuana) with variable woody understorey. Small areas of semi-evergreen notophyll vine thickets, not native to the site, occur in
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The bitumen "Castle Hill Road" winds for 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) from the northeast slopes to the summit of the second peak, on which the Hynes Lookout platform has been erected.
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Over two years later, in November 1949, the monument was finally placed on Castle Hill, where it stands to the present day. A plaque was added to explain the origins of the monument.
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92:. It is one of the most distinctive natural features on the Queensland coast. There are a number of vantage points from which to view the city below and also across
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The vegetation, largely regenerative, is dominated by indigenous plant species. Approximately 300 plant species have been identified. Of particular importance are:
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400:. Unconfirmed reports indicate approval was given for the construction of an underground Area Combined Headquarters in Castle Hill in 1943.
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would be a suitable location for the monument. Having arrived in Townsville, the monument was then placed in storage for a number of years.
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During the Second World War Castle Hill was used as a communications and observation post. Infantry and field regiments of the
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gave its approval to the council to place the monument in the centre of the car parking area on the top of Castle Hill.
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273:) dominates on the steeper slopes. Specialised flora also occur on the cliffs and rocky outcrops, in particular the
200:. In January 1942, Townsville City Council voted to accept the memorial and transport it to Townsville at a cost of
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235:(Orchidaceae), for which Castle Hill is the type locality, first described by renowned German-Australian botanist
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Castle Hill Road) and Lookout were named after the then Minister for Labour and Industry, Hon. MP Maurice Hynes.
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Many locals walk up Castle Hill for regular exercise. There are many different routes to the top, by road or by
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It rises to a height of some 286 metres (938 ft) above sea level and dominates the city
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Castle Hill's less than saintly artists come forward. 18 March 2002. ABC News Online
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This article is about the hill itself. For the suburb that it sits within, see
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592:"Castle Hill (Mount Cutheringa) – hill in City of Townsville (entry 6446)"
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285:(two species). Introduced flora comprised almost 50 species, including
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The fauna, which has not been surveyed comprehensively, includes the
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who, together with MW Reid, were the first Europeans to explore the
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areas such as gullies. On the gentler slopes kangaroo grass (
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coastal plain. The surface is primarily bare rock or shallow
1044:"The Townsville Daily Bulletin WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 23, 1949"
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Robert Towns monument, relocated to Castle Hill, Townsville
788:"The Townsville Daily Bulletin TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1941"
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nest here. Echidna, death adder and quail have been seen.
207:"high on the peak of Castle Hill, overlooking the harbour"
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Plaque explaining the origins of the Robert Towns monument
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Monolithic Castle Hill dominates the Townsville coastline
1084:. Peter Dunn's Australia @ War. Retrieved 12 June 2013.
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Ammunition magazine, situated below road up Castle Hill
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Townsville City Council Heritage Database: Castle Hill
354:Castle Hill was one of the earliest sites named by
325:View from Castle Hill towards the Townsville Port
1075:Tunnels/Bunkers under Castle Hill in World War 2
77:, Queensland, Australia. Its Indigenous name is
387:1952 photograph of the quarry near Sturt Street
43:Castle Hill as seen from the Strand, Townsville
560:"CLEVELAND BAY AND THE TOWNSHIP OF TOWNSVILLE"
256:The plant communities are predominantly mixed
8:
531:"Castle Hill [suburb] (entry 44582)"
100:. Castle Hill (as a hill) was listed on the
916:"Council To Decide Site For Towns Monument"
1064:– via National Library of Australia.
1032:– via National Library of Australia.
1000:– via National Library of Australia.
968:– via National Library of Australia.
948:"CASTLE HILL'S SUMMIT FOR TOWNS' MONUMENT"
936:– via National Library of Australia.
904:– via National Library of Australia.
872:– via National Library of Australia.
840:– via National Library of Australia.
808:– via National Library of Australia.
746:– via National Library of Australia.
580:– via National Library of Australia.
140:origins, rising abruptly from the younger
502:"Castle Hill [hill] (entry 6446)"
482:North Eastern Area Command HQ, Townsville
27:Granite monolith in Queensland, Australia
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342:Early records and creation of a Reserve
980:"WADING POOL FOR CITY BATHS DISCUSSED"
116:Castle Hill, Townsville (January 2008)
768:from the original on 15 February 2018
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176:, the founder of Townsville, died in
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1052:. Qld. 23 November 1949. p. 2.
1020:. Qld. 26 November 1949. p. 1.
988:. Qld. 28 February 1948. p. 3.
796:. Qld. 23 December 1941. p. 4.
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992:from the original on 1 October 2020
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956:. Qld. 17 October 1947. p. 3.
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924:. Qld. 10 October 1947. p. 2.
896:from the original on 1 October 2020
892:. Qld. 21 January 1942. p. 2.
864:from the original on 1 October 2020
860:. Qld. 16 January 1942. p. 3.
832:from the original on 1 October 2020
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572:from the original on 1 October 2020
828:. Qld. 5 January 1942. p. 2.
396:Street Bunker near Sidney Street,
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1012:"Towns Memorial on Castle Hill"
734:. 19 October 1940. p. 9.
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634:. Queensland Heritage Council
1158:Queensland Heritage Register
631:Queensland Heritage Register
626:"Castle Hill (entry 601218)"
102:Queensland Heritage Register
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1153:Queensland in World War II
189:Municipality of Leichhardt
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1049:Townsville Daily Bulletin
1017:Townsville Daily Bulletin
985:Townsville Daily Bulletin
953:Townsville Daily Bulletin
921:Townsville Daily Bulletin
889:Townsville Daily Bulletin
857:Townsville Daily Bulletin
825:Townsville Daily Bulletin
793:Townsville Daily Bulletin
731:The Sydney Morning Herald
694:"Map of Castle Hill Road"
277:hummock grass community,
281:spp. (five species) and
1138:Landmarks in Queensland
820:"ROBERT TOWNS MONUMENT"
762:Leichhardt City Council
669:31 October 2010 at the
393:5th Australian Division
198:Townsville City Council
81:, sometimes written as
32:Castle Hill, Queensland
1148:Monoliths of Australia
596:Queensland Place Names
535:Queensland Place Names
506:Queensland Place Names
437:This section is empty.
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108:Geography and features
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539:Queensland Government
510:Queensland Government
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271:Heteropogon triticeus
237:Ferdinand von Mueller
215:Queensland Government
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160:Robert Towns monument
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1114:19.2584°S 146.8005°E
852:"WATER RESTRICTIONS"
565:The Brisbane Courier
233:Sarcochilus ceciliae
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1119:-19.2584; 146.8005
1080:4 May 2006 at the
758:"Balmain Cemetery"
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287:Ficus benghalensis
245:sp. nov. (Poaceae)
180:and was buried in
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75:City of Townsville
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474:Queensland portal
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307:Peregrine falcons
69:in the suburb of
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1105:146°48′02″E
772:21 December
699:Google Maps
404:Development
356:Andrew Ball
79:Cootharinga
71:Castle Hill
56:Castle Hill
18:Cootharinga
1143:Townsville
1132:Categories
1102:19°15′30″S
1060:10 January
1028:10 January
996:10 January
964:10 January
932:10 January
900:10 January
868:10 January
836:10 January
804:10 January
742:10 January
544:10 January
515:10 January
488:References
448:April 2018
411:North Ward
360:Ross River
349:Pallarenda
331:goat track
317:Activities
258:Eucalyptus
213:1948, the
142:Quaternary
96:to nearby
83:Cooderinga
252:spinifex.
172:In 1873,
146:lithosols
130:inselberg
104:in 1993.
1078:Archived
1054:Archived
1022:Archived
990:Archived
958:Archived
926:Archived
894:Archived
862:Archived
830:Archived
798:Archived
766:Archived
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704:Archived
667:Archived
570:Archived
460:See also
398:West End
243:Aristida
239:in 1865;
67:monolith
638:16 July
337:History
283:orchids
275:Triodia
196:to the
138:Permian
136:–
90:skyline
64:granite
710:27 May
347:being
291:Banyan
178:Sydney
297:Fauna
279:Ficus
263:mesic
224:Flora
58:is a
1062:2014
1030:2014
998:2014
966:2014
934:2014
902:2014
870:2014
838:2014
806:2014
774:2013
744:2014
712:2018
640:2013
607:2017
578:2017
546:2014
517:2014
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