Subscribe      List an Event or Business      Invite a Writer      Write for WN      Writers      Other Locations
1 million Australian readers every month      list your event

Queens Gardens

Home > Cairns > Parks | Outdoor | Gardens | Family | Walks
by Cris (subscribe)
Cris is an Organiser of the Group Hiking South East Qld and More on Meetup. Visit the website at https://www.meetup.com/HikingInSEQLDandMore/ is free to join all the activities posted on the hiking group.
Published May 27th 2021
Take a walk in the Heritage listed Queens Gardens
Queens Gardens are the oldest botanic gardens and heritage-listed in Townsville. Queens Gardens are located at the base of the massive pink granite monolithic of Castle Hill. The gardens offer a quiet and cool place for a walk and to observe the many plants, trees, flowers and birds.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary,
Queens Gardens and in the background is the monolithic pink granite Castle Hill. Photo by Author.


The gardens feature a diverse array of plants and interesting collections from around the world.The gardens are subdivided into special areas dedicated to rainforest, succulents, cactus, palms, frangipani and Moreton Bay Figs.

Queens Gardens were established in 1870 as part of the Acclimatisation Garden. At the times of the colonisation, edible plants were trialled in the gardens for potential food for the settlement.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Queens Gardens are about 151 years old. Photo by Author.
.

More than 40 ha of land was dedicated to planting a variety of exotic species, including cocoa, African oil palms and mangoes. It is believed the mango trees were originally from the region between northwestern Myanmar, Bangladesh, and northeastern India.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Luscious vegetation. Photo by Author.


Today the gardens are a lush green oasis set against the dramatic pink granite cliffs of Castle Hill and offer a quiet cool retreat amidst the busy area in proximity to The Strand.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
African Oil Palm, Elaeis guineensi- Arecaceae; West and Central Africa. Photo by Author.


Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Date Palm, Phoenix dactylifera, Arecaceae, North Africa, Middle East. Photo by Author.


Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
There are many trails in Queens Gardens, taking the visitors to all the variety of plants and trees. Photo by Author.


This compact representation of a tropical rainforest hosts a spreading canopy of Strangler Fig (Ficus virens var. virens), Blue Quandong (Elaeocarpus angustifolius), Milky Pine (Alstonia scholaris) and Raintree (Samanea saman).

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Moreton Fig Tree sending all the roots onto the ground. Photo by Author.


Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
An incredible maze of branches and roots. Photo by Author.


There is also an aviary inside the Gardens hosting several species of birds.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
The bird aviary has been an important attraction in the area since the 1930's. Photo by Author.


Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Aviary with different species of birds. Photo by Author.


You can learn how to recognise the plants which bear food for the different species of birds.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
There are Sulphur crested Cockatoos, Cockatiel, Rainbow Lorikeet, Long billed Corella and a few other birds. Photo by Author.


The floral emblem of Queens Gardens is represented by a collection of Frangipani (Plumeria), species that occur naturally in the wild. Frangipani is perfect for the dry tropical climate of Townsville and it is a plant that goes back to colonial heritage.

Queen Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
The shade of the trees provide some respite from the heat of Townsville. Photo by Author.


Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Succulent flowers. Photo by Author.


Queen Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Succulent flowers. Photo by Author.


Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Flowers. Photo by Author.


It is easy to spot the leaves in the tree arranged by the green ants to make the nests. These formidable insects work from the outside and the inside to weave the leaf together to make the nests for the colony.

Queens Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden, Mango Trees, Green ants,
Colonies of green ants in the tree. Photo by Author.


Queen Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Queens Gardens c 1890. Photo fromhttps://www.soe-townsville.org/parks/queens.html#equipment


Queen Gardens in Townsville, Castle Hill, Aviary, Acclimatisation Garden,
Queens Gardens in c 1916. Photo fromhttps://www.soe-townsville.org/parks/queens.html#equipment


Open Hours
Queens Gardens are open seven days a week between sunrise and sunset all year.

For more information about Queens Gardens, contact Parks Services, Townsville City Council.

Address
15 Paxton St, North Ward QLD 4810

Parking is available in all the streets which bound the site.

More related article by the Author

Little Crystal Creek and Little Crystal Creek Bridge, Paluma Area
www.weekendnotes.com/little-crystal-creek

McClellands Lookout, Cloudy Creek Track, Witt's Lookout, Paluma Village
www.weekendnotes.com/paluma-range-national-park-townsville

A Journey in Paluma Village
www.weekendnotes.com/a-journey-to-paluma-village

Andree Griffin Hike, Paluma Village
www.weekendnotes.com/andree-griffin-hike-paluma-village


Birthday Creek Falls Hike, Paluma National Parkhttps://www.weekendnotes.com/birthday-creek-falls-hike-paluma-national-park/

Jourama Falls Trail, Paluma National Park
www.weekendnotes.com/jourama-falls-trail-paluma-national-park

Wallaman Falls, Girringun National Park
www.weekendnotes.com/wallaman-falls-girringun-national-park

TYTO Wetlands
www.weekendnotes.com/tyto-wetlands

JK's Delicatessen: Italian Deli and Cafe
www.weekendnotes.com/jks-delicatessen-ingham

Mercer Lane Mosaic
www.weekendnotes.com/mercer-lane-ingham


Reference

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_Gardens,_Townsville

www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/attractions/p-56b25e707b935fbe730dd626-queens-gardens.html

www.soe-townsville.org/parks/queens.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mango

www.thalabeach.com.au/green-ants-australia
Help us improve  Click here if you liked this article  66
Share: email  facebook  twitter
Where: 15 Paxton St, North Ward QLD 4810
Your Comment
Another great Queensland attraction Cris. I'm enjoying my Queensland 'holiday.'
by Neil Follett (score: 3|4767) 747 days ago
Popular Articles
Categories
Lists
Questions