1. Townsville is the biggest city in North Queensland

The Greater Townsville area is home to more than 200,000 residents. The city itself has a population of 185,064 people. Townsville also covers some very large land space at 1,735 square kilometers making it the largest city in Queensland by area

2. It is the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef & The Outback

Townsville is considered a hub for people who want to explore the amazing world of the Great Barrier Reef and experience true Australian outback life. Travelers can visit both these locations by simply taking a day trip or two from Townsville.

3. Townsville is named after Robert Towns

Local businessman and pastoralist Robert Towns was the man who named the city. He was originally from England and arrived in Australia with his family in 1864. It took him a few years to settle down, but when he finally did, he opened one of the largest privately-owned sheep stations in Australia at that time.

4. Townsville is the closest city to Magnetic Island

Townsville and Magnetic Island are separated by a distance of approximately 8 kilometers. For this reason, many tourists visit both these locations each year on their own separate trips. Travelers can get there either by catching a ferry or by hiring a small boat and traveling over (weather permitting).

5. Townsville is located in the tropics

Townsville experiences warm weather all year round, with an average temperature range between 22 degrees Celsius in winter and 32 degrees Celsius in summer. The city also gets significant rainfall each year. However, there aren't any cyclones here since it's protected by the mountains on Magnetic Island.

6. Townsville is a port city

Townsville serves as a major seaport and is home to the largest single wharf in Australia. Its Port of Townsville complex has multiple piers and an outer harbor that can fit vessels with a capacity of up to 220,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT).

7. Townsville is one of the largest Army bases in Australia

Townsville has the Lavarack Barracks, which is one of Australia's largest army bases. It is home to some 5,000 Australian soldiers and contractors, along with their families. The city also hosts many other military units like RAAF Base Townsville (Royal Australian Air Force) and Robertson Barracks (Special Air Service Regiment).

8. Townsville holds a Guinness World Record 

Townsville holds the Guinness World Record for being home to the single largest collection of 3D street art. It has a total of 50 images that are spread across six streets in three different suburbs, namely Vincent, Aitkenvale, and Pimlico.

9. Townsville has an average of 300 sunny days a year.

Townsville experiences more than 300 sunny days with clear skies every year, giving it the nickname 'The Sunshine City.