Townsville P!nk concert: Mural painted in her honour, joeys named after her children

With P!nk’s shows expected to bring in about $50m for the region’s economy, the city isn’t holding back to let the global superstar know she’s welcome.

Artist Lavinia Letheby with her Pink mural in Sturt Street. Picture: Evan Morgan

Her own mural, pop-up selfie doors and even some of our local wildlife named in her honour: Townsville has definitely been overrun with P!nk fever.

With almost 80,000 fans awaiting the arrival of the international superstar to Queensland Country Bank Stadium tomorrow night, the city has turned all shades of pink.

The two-concert event – which will close P!nk’s national Summer Carnival tour and contributing to the national title crowning the tour as Australia’s biggest tour by a female artist, will generate almost $50M in economic benefit for the city and attracting more than 20,000 out of region visitors.

In addition to the concert events, fans will be treated to a host of festivities leading up to and past the major event, with local businesses offering special promotions and themed activities, ensuring that the entire city is buzzing with pink fever.

Townsville Enterprise director of visitor economy and marketing Lisa Woolfe said the business community pulled out all stops to give the global superstar and her fans an unforgettable experience.

Townsville has turned P!nk: Pink pancakes.

“From pink-inspired menus and bottomless brunches to ice cream trucks and on-route music trails, pink-gin sip and sail cruises, a P!nk Parade, and afterparties as well – the city is raising their glass to the ultimate party this weekend,” Ms Woolfe said.

“We already know Townsville is the events capital of the North, and this will be the city’s biggest party yet, and to see our business community embracing major events and really turning it on for locals and visitors alike is such a positive sign for the growth of events in this region.”

For a full of activations and things happening in Townsville pre, during and post the upcoming Pink Summer Carnival concert, visit townsvillenorthqueensland.com.au

Artist Lavinia Letheby with her Pink mural in Sturt Street. Picture: Evan Morgan

Pop star immortalised

Mural artist Lavinia Letheby has been determined to rise to the challenge and paint Townsville pink before the arrival of the international superstar this week.

“We’ve got a massive, international artist coming and the tagline is to paint the town pink. Being a mural artist full time, I thought, what better way to celebrate it than to have a large mural of her,” Ms Letheby said.

“I’m hoping to get to the show, I grew up in the Pink era.”

The effort, which came together in the last two weeks before the rockstar’s arrival, had to be completed in a hurry, and was only possible thanks to a number of donations and helping hands, with pant supplied by Taubmans and the lifter used to get high enough lent from Global Hire and Services.

“We had a couple of walls we looked at and we were struggling to get permission because some of the buildings were heritage listed. We weren’t able to get the businesses doing promotions, unfortunately,” Ms Letheby said.

The eventual property that is adorned with the mural sits at 311 Sturt Street, next door to the Katter Australian Party office, and Ms Letheby hopes that it will be a frequent selfie spot for those attending the concert, and possibly the star herself.

“We’re going to get such an influx of people coming to Townsville for the concert, it’s just a great thing for Townsville and tourism as well.”

Ms Letheby said she’d only moved to Townsville a year ago, and had been doing jobs with the council in the year since.

“I’m just trying to get out there a little bit more, so I’ve got a Facebook page at Art by Lavinia Latheby and an Instagram too.”

Billabong Sanctuary have named their two latest joeys after Pink's children, Willow and Jameson.

Joeys named in honour

Billabong Sanctuary owner Bob Flemming said that in learning about Pink’s passion for Australia it was only fitting that they name their newest baby animals after the rockstar’s family members.

“We’ve recently welcomed a red kangaroo joey who we’ve named Willow and a pademelon joey we’ve named after P!nk’s son, Jameson,” he said.

“We are a family-run business that has been welcoming kids to experience an immersive Aussie wildlife experience for more than 35 years, and we are so proud to welcome new animals to our park and to share the excitement of Pink visiting Townsville with the world.”

Originally published as Townsville P!nk concert: Mural painted in her honour, joeys named after her children