Origin trust shows the city is on the rise
Townsville is going from strength to strength. We are known as the events capital of Northern Australia, and there is no better event to secure for our city than State of Origin.
Hosting the Maroons v Blues clash in Townsville is a dream come true for the whole city. I couldn’t be prouder of council’s efforts and the support of local business owners and the Queensland government to help bring game one of the 2021 series to North Queensland.
For the past week the atmosphere across Townsville and the North has been electric. There is a frisson of excitement travelling through our region as we gear-up to celebrate this historic State of Origin match.
You don’t have to cast your mind back far to remember the mood in Townsville when the Queensland Nickel refinery closed just five years ago, creating a gaping hole in local industry and leaving many families without income.
Since then our city has rolled with the punches of the 2019 monsoon and the Covid-19 global pandemic, all while embracing a changing skyline. But the skyline hasn’t been the only thing changing – confidence in our city is skyrocketing.
We are now home to the worldclass Queensland Country Bank Stadium, which will host the first ever North Queensland-based round of State of Origin. The stadium has also hosted incredible events like Elton John’s farewell tour, the Horn v Tszyu fight, and is getting ready to welcome KISS this December. We wanted the stadium to be a catalyst for the reinvigoration of the CBD. In fact, it has lifted the entire city.
And it’s not just big events that are helping boost Townsville’s profile.
Our population is expected to pass 200,000 in the next 12 months and the city is also proud to boast an unemployment rate that is now lower than the state average, with the trades, healthcare, and hospitality sectors at the top end of local growth.
We have a myriad of exciting projects across Townsville, including a new $80 million hotel being built adjacent to The Ville Resort–casino which will help service the city’s increasing number of tourists travelling to enjoy major events in Townsville.
It just goes to show that Townsville is more than just an events destination – it’s the best place in Australia to call home.