Queens Gardens is the finest park in Townville. Located in the suburb of North Ward on the corner of Gregory and Paxton Street, 1.2 km north of the city centre, the Queens was one of the oldest in Australia. It was established in 1870 replacing an acclimatization park at the same place. The Queens Gardens in Townville was the place where potential food and economic vegetation were experimented during the era of colonization. Queens Gardens in Townsville, at present is a lush green oasis set against the dramatic pink granite cliffs of Castle Hill and offers a hushed cool retreat amidst the hectic residential and commercial areas in North Ward. The garden in Townsville comprises more than 40 ha of land and has an assortment of variety of exotic species, including cocoa, African oil palms, mangoes and many more. Many of the hoop pines and black beans planted at in early 1900 are still growing today and are amongst the oldest cultivated specimens in Australia. Queens Gardens dwells in a tenderly sloping, almost square at the base of Castle Hill. The natural soils are alike granodiorite, the predominant rock of Castle Hill with shallow clays at the lower segment of the site. Queens Garden is divided into quadrants each with a central fountain. Children's playground and picnics are marked inside the park. Special areas include the Isabel Phillips Rose Garden, the Herb Society's garden, the annual garden beds, the mazes and the Black-bean avenue. Today, Queens Gardens is a precious asset to Townsville, offering a cool, green setting. Tourists to Townsville use its lush gardens for relaxation and recreation, while the City Council and community groups use its green grandeur to stage a variety of events.
|