Townsville Rail Station’s future unclear as Queensland Rail searches for new location

Townsville’s heritage-listed former railway station is on track for changes to its use and ownership after its owner confirmed a change in direction. Check out the historic photos.

Leighton Smith

@LeightonESmith

2 min read

June 28, 2025 - 5:00AM

Townsville Bulletin

Townsville Railway Station in 2016. Picture: Qld Government.

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Townsville’s grand old lady, the heritage-listed former railway station is on track for a change in direction after Queensland Rail flagged its desire to find a new site for its staff.

State-owned railway operator Queensland Rail currently possesses and staffs the historic CBD building at the corner of Flinders and Blackwood Streets.

It ceased operating as a train station in 2003 after a new station opened on Charters Towers Rd, and the city tracks were removed.

With speculation swirling about the building’s future, a Queensland Rail spokeswoman has confirmed that changes were afoot.

“The State Heritage listed old Townsville station building is currently occupied by 100 Queensland Rail staff, including 48 train controllers,” the spokeswoman said.

Queensland Railway senior volunteer Jack Hutton at the old Townsville Railway Station in 2014. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Some of our sites in the region, including old Townsville station, are no longer fit for modern workforce and we are looking at a bigger facility in Townsville.

“Queensland Rail is constantly looking at opportunities for our properties to be of the best benefit to our people and the communities we connect across the state.”

Townsville Great Northern Railway Station – 1915

The bustling Townsville Railway Station circa 1915. Picture: TCC.

Given that Townsville has been at the heart of QR’s regional operations for many years, she reaffirmed their commitment to keep operations in the city.

“Any decision around the future of the old Townsville station building would be required to go through a full Expression of Interest (EOI) process,” she said.

Regarded as one of Townsville’s most distinctive buildings, the former railway building and nearby North Rail Yards have a rich history that is recognised in the Queensland Heritage Register.

Townsville Railway Station in 1944. Picture: Citylibraries.

Scott Whitaker visits the Townsville Railway Station while promoting his book Railway Hotels of Australia, Volume 3. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Designed by draftsman Vincent Price to reflect the design of the great railway stations of Europe, the three-storey brick and stucco railway station was built in the CBD between 1910 and 1913.

The station was built to complement the construction of the Great Northern Railway, which started in 1879 and by 1929 stretched as far as Brisbane in the south and Mount Isa in the west.

Aerial view of railway station with VP-50 Victory sign. Photographer Jason South.

The railway and station were integral to transport services during WWII when Townsville was a major military base and a major staging point for the Allied war effort.

It featured in a number of famous photos taken during the war’s victory celebrations, and was recognised by the people of Townsville during the VP 50 Celebrations when thousands greeted a “troop” train at the station in 1995.

Members of the Empire Parliamentary Delegation pose outside Townsville Railway Station on September 29, 1926, during a tour of North Queensland. Townsville Mayor Ald Anthony Ogden is seated in the middle, dressed in white. Delegation chairman the Marquis of Salisbury is on his right. Picture Townsville CityLibraries Picture: Supplied

Historical re-enactors Berry Turnbull, Donna Turnbull, Les Irwin displaying 1880s fashion, WWI Barbara Medhurst, Rhys Disher, and WWII Wynneta McCromack, Timothy Moorses at the old railway station, Townsville.

In 2016, Townsville builder A Gabrielli Constructions was commissioned to carry out a series of renovations on the building including installing a new roof in its original red heritage-colour, as well as replacing several timber trusses, painting, and maintenance of gutters and downpipes.

A.Gabrielli Constructions is facelifting the old railway station. (front) Zac Garrett (project manager), Steve Cowan (Foreman) and Josh Pike (Leading Hand) (has the big beard).

Townsville railway station 1932

The Great Northern Railway Station. THEN: This was taken soon after The Great Northern Railway Station officially opened in December 1913. In those days trains only ran as far as Charters Towers and Ayr but the coastal line from Brisbane to Cairns was eventually completed in 1923. This grand brick building was well known by soldiers in transit during World War II.