culture
The story behind the scene and the people who created it
Local artists and organisers spent months shaping Townsville's newest public installation on Flinders Street.
How we reported this
A new series of six murals depicting Townsville's industrial and maritime history went up along Flinders Street between July 8 and July 10 this year.
The project marks the first time the Townsville Arts Collective has worked directly with the city council on a permanent street installation. It comes as visitor numbers to the city's cultural sites rose 18 percent in the past financial year.
Work that started in a Ross River studio
Three painters and two fabricators from the Collective began sketches in a rented studio near the Ross River in February. They tested colours against the concrete walls at the old railway workshops on Perkins Street before settling on a palette that matches the port cranes visible from The Strand. Council records show the group received a $42,000 materials grant in March to cover scaffolding and weatherproof coatings.
Daily foot traffic on that stretch of Flinders Street averages 4,200 people on weekdays, according to council pedestrian counters installed in 2024. The Collective timed the installation to finish before the annual Riverway Arts Market opens on July 19.
Next steps for visitors and future work
Residents can view the murals during daylight hours without charge. Guided walks start from the Townsville Civic Theatre forecourt each Saturday at 10am and cost $15. The Collective has already lodged an application for a second phase along Stanley Street later this year.