Our Home Away From Home
Although it hasn’t been ‘home’ since Dean and I moved to Brisbane 23 years ago, having lived in Townsville for more than 26 years, it will always feel like home or, at the very least, it will always feel like a second home.
For the last week, Dean and I have had a ball walking down memory lane, visiting family and friends, rediscovering places and landmarks of old, and I never thought I’d describe Townsville as ‘pretty’, but that’s exactly what it is right now.
Arriving a couple of days after some much needed rain (quite a bit actually*), we’ve found ourselves surrounded by a beautiful vista of greenery that we’ve struggled to remember seeing when we lived here. It’s been five years since the last time I was in Townsville and back in 2011 the city was as dry as a tinderbox and the tiniest of spark would easily have set it ablaze. All the grass was dead and the colour of wheat, and everyone held their collective breath praying for rain.
To see the city so green is an absolute delight.
After wasting away hours over coffee with and old friend yesterday, we ventured into Anzac Memorial Park, another place inscribed on Queensland’s Heritage Register (together with the adjacent Banyan Trees), and another place in Townsville that I hold dear.
I have so many happy childhood memories of playing in the Queensland Centenary Fountain. It was erected in 1959 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Queensland’s separation from New South Wales, but we didn’t know it’s significance when we ran around the edge, laughing and squealing and jumped in and out of the water.
I didn’t know it’s significance when I allowed my daughters to do exactly the same.
The park holds many happy memories overall including, most importantly, sweet memories of the day Dean and I were married. We had our wedding photos taken in the park as well as in and around the park’s rotunda. I couldn’t resist the urge to (attempt) a recreation, although in our original wedding photos I am not sporting rabbit ears.

We have a few more days to enjoy Townsville before we venture north and into the Daintree Rainforest as well as a few other places between here and there.
Can’t wait to see the original wedding photo! — I’ve never been to Townsville but it is on my bucket list…….
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You might have to wait to see that photo. What I meant to say was when I get home to Brisbane, but I’ll see what I have on hand to share anyway.
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Love them all… but your wedding photo is superb! 😉
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When I get home Nancy, I’ll upload the original 🙂
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Yea!
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Feel the same way about Townsville and just love the changes. Still have rellies and friends there so visit often.
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Townsville will always be like that for us also.
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Naaaaaw so sweet Mum and Dad!!! Love you!
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Love yo too Moo 💜
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Great post 🙂
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Thank you
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