Townsville, city in Queensland, Australia, on Cleveland Bay at the mouth of Ross River. Townsville is a major seaport and commercial centre of northern Australia. Its manufacturing industries produce processed food, refined copper, wood items, and building materials. Tourism is also important to the economy. Magnetic Island, facing Townsville in Cleveland Bay, is a popular tourist attraction. Part of Magnetic Island is a national park. Another place of interest is the world's largest coral reef aquarium. James Cook University of North Queensland (1970) and army and air force bases are located in Townsville.
The first arrival of Europeans occurred in 1770 when Captain James Cook sailed into Cleveland Bay, and the first wharf was built in 1864. Townsville initially developed as a base for the practice of “blackbirding”—the importation of Kanakas (South Sea Islanders) for forced work on the sugar plantations of Queensland—which lasted until the end of the 19th century. Population 127,200 (1999 estimate).
