Thuringowa, Queensland

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Thuringowa City Council

Thuringowa is a Local Government Area in northern Queensland, Australia with a population of over 63,000 people and covers the northern and western parts of the urban area usually referred to locally as "the Twin Cities". Prior to its proclamation as a city on 1 January 1986, Thuringowa was a large rural shire, almost surrounding the city of Townsville. Thuringowa was named after the German free state of Thuringia where an early German pioneer who lived in the town descended from. Thuringowa is situated latitude and longitude of 19°0′S 146°11′E.

It is often said that Thuringowa is part of Townsville but this is incorrect as Thuringowa is one city and Townsville is another city

[edit] History

Aboriginal tribes and language groups which at the time of European exploration lived in 'Warungowa', i.e. the area around Townsville, Thuringowa, and the Burdekin.

Today the Thuringowa City area covers roughly the western third of the division's original area. After the formation of the Division in 1879 there was a lot of progress in the preceding two decades. Suburbs grew rapidly and by 1902 Thuringowa had 1020 dwellings listed on its ratebooks. Such rapid growth drove infrastructure development and thus early Chairmen, Arthur Bundock and Joseph Hodel, led the way with the construction of the Ross River Bridge, the bridge at the Causeway and the Stewart Creek Bridge. These roads and bridges were constructed to serve not only Thuringowa's rural base but also Thuringowa's residential subdivisions of Hermit Park, Mundingburra and Rosslea. These were part of Thuringowa before the government assigned them to Townsville. Water reticulation and sanitary services were established in these suburbs and street lighting and beautification work carried out along Charters Towers Road. Also during this period the Council's first administration building was constructed at the Causeway, near the intersection of Flinders Street West and Ingham Road, which are now part of Townsville. Under the 1902 Local Authorities Act, divisional areas were renamed shires. Consequently, in 1903 the Thuringowa Divisional Board became the Thuringowa Shire Council. The period up to 1918 was one of consolidation and minor works not major projects.

The earliest person on record to live in Thuringowa was James Morrill whos wreck washed ashore in 1846.

In 1860 the new Queensland Govenment passed an act opening up the area to pastoral leases and by 1861 there were many runs in Thuringowa, and by 1865 Robert Towns and John Melton Black had purchased a number of Properties thoughtout Thuringowa.

In 1865 Robert Towns built a boiling down works, at this time there was no facilities for shipping cattle or sheep so in 1865 Andrew Ball and Mark Reid left Woodstock Station to find a harbour around the Cleveland bay shores and the Town and port of Townsville was established at the mouth of Ross Creek.

[edit] Climate

The climate of Thuringowas neighbour city Townsville as measured and recorded at the Aero.

The city of Thuringowa with its main suburbs lies (like its neighbour city Townsville) (see diagram) in the wet-dry tropics, which are characterized by hot and rainy summers (wet season) and warm and dry winters (dry season). However, to the area of the city which also belongs to the Paluma Range, which in its higher altitudes is characterized by a year-round relatively cool and moist climate, thus belonging to the Wet Tropics of Queensland and to the so-named World Heritage area.

[edit] Development in Thuringowa

Thuringowa has grown in population quickly, becoming the fastest growing local region in Australia at the last census. The population has increased from 26,000 in 1986 to over 63,000 as of 2006. Recently a new $1 billion 5000-lot Housing estate is planned for the northern part of the city, just off the Bruce Highway. It is the biggest ever planned housing estate in North Queensland. Although mainly a residential area, Thuringowa does include several significant industrial and commercial enterprises, notably the Yabulu nickel refinery.

Thuringowa City Council recently gave approval to a new 10-story Hotel Complex across the road from the Riverway Complex, stage one of Riverway was opened to the public on the 8th of July 2006 during the river festival.[1] Thuringowa was again named the NQ tidest town for 2005-06.

Thuringowa will have its own weather station in the city after a Thuringowa City Council meeting decision. The weather station would provide Thuringowa residents with accurate weather conditions. It was a result of Thuringowa residents requests.

[edit] Schools

See List of schools in the City of Thuringowa. Thuringowa has some of the best schools in the north Kirwan State High School has won many awards.

[edit] Library

In April 2005, the Thuringowa Library was named the Queensland Public Library of the Year by the [http://www.connectqld.org.au/asp/index.asp?pgid=14687 Queensland Public Libraries Association. The Libaray is undergoing a large revamp with more computers and interactive areas. all this can be found on the Thuringowa city website.

[edit] Shopping In Thuringowa

There are many places to shop in Thuringowa. The biggest of which is Willows Shopping Town (known as the Willows) and it is set expand with a upgrade starting 2007. Just across the road is Sunland Plaza, it is a part of Cannon Park, which is the hub of Thuringowa CBD. There are many restaurants, movie theatres, take away shops and many more other shops.

The new Riverway is also set to host a range of shops early in 2007.

[edit] shopping centres in Thuringowa

• Willows Shoppingtown
• Sunland Plaza
• Parkside Plaza
• Centro Woodlands
• Cannon Park
• Upper Ross shopping centre

[edit] Sporting

Thuringowa has many great sporting grounds, clubs and stadiums. The best known is the Dairy Farmers Stadium. Thuringowa play host to a NRL team, the North Queensland Cowboys. The Cowboys play at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Thuringowa, this venue has hosted 3 2003 Rugby Union World Cup games, and has a capacity of 30,000. The stadium was built in 1995 after it was announced that the Twin Cities would be home to a NRL Rugby Team. It was known as Stockland Stadium and Malanda Stadium in the past.

Thuringowa was host to the Japanese team in 2003 with the team playing a majority of the games at Dairy Farmers Stadium. In 2006 the Super 14 rugby team final of the season at Dairy Farmers Stadium,Thuringowa may host Super 14 matches in future seasons.

The Riverway is a major urban and recreational development that will have a new international Cricket and Australian rules football stadium.

Thuringowa also have it's own international standard golf course known as The Willows Golf Club. The Willows is one of Australia's largest golf wildlife sanctuaries, the course is surrounded by 180 acres of tranquillity and offers a relaxed pleasant atmosphere, It also hosts the Queensland Masters.

Thuringowa has a 1/4 mile drag strip, a dirt track speedway, world class sealed go-cart track, motocross training track, fishing farm, rodeo, gun club.

[edit] Suburbs of Thuringowa and their Postcodes

Suburbs of Thuringowa include:

• Urban Thuringowa:
  • Thuringowa Central - 4817
  • Kirwan - 4817
  • Condon - 4815
  • Rasmussen - 4815
  • Kelso - 4815
  • Deeragun - 4818
• Rural Thuringowa:
  • Paluma - 4816
  • Yabulu - 4818
  • Bluewater - 4818
  • Bushland Beach - 4818
  • Mt Low - 4818
  • Bohle - 4818
  • Burdell - 4818
  • Shaw - 4818
  • Bohle Plains - 4817
  • Alice River(Rupertswood) - 4817
  • Rangewood - 4817
  • Pinnacles - 4815
  • Saunders Beach - 4818
  • Toolakea - 4818

see also Halifax Bay

[edit] Transport

See also: Transport in Townsville, Queensland

Thuringowa is serviced by many major Arterial routes as well as numerous state routes. The Northern beaches district of Thuringowa is serviced by the A1 (Bruce Highway) or the National Highway 1.

Urban Thuringowa will become part of the A1 route, as the Townsville Ring Road(known as "the ring road) will become the new National Highway route through the city. The first stage, The Douglas Arterial Road opened in April 2005.

In terms of Aviation, Thuringowa is serviced by nearby Townsville International Airport. Public Transport is serviced by Sunbus, which has many Bus interchages within Thuringowa.

[edit] External links

• Thuringowa City Council
• Riverway Homepage
• History of the area
• More history of Thuringowa, including searchable historical image collection - from Thuringowa Library Heritage Services