Former North Ward Defence Complex, Townsville

The former North Ward Defence Complex now hosts a new art gallery as a feature of the reconfiguration of the site where all historic building now face Mitchell Street. The art gallery is in the former drill hall. The property originally extended through to The Strand, and once included 28 structures. The site began as a volunteer defence force training facility in 1885. A drill hall was constructed in 1887 and in 1890 a two-storeyed brick office and a stores building were built on the corner of Oxley and Mitchell Streets. The Colonial Architect’s office designed officers’ quarters, stables and fencing, also built in 1890. A new drill hall was designed by District Architect Thomas Pye and completed in 1906. The old one was removed. The defence complex hosted cadet training after WWI, when compulsory military training was introduced for young men who lived within large cities and towns. The property remained in use for defence purposes until June 2001. The three remaining buildings are the 1890 two storey Georgian brick quartermaster’s store; the 1890 colonial officers’ quarters and the 1906 drill hall and offices. The officers’ quarters were recently relocated between the brick store and drill hall.