Townsville Pool To Pool

Tracing the beachfront of Cleveland Bay, the two-kilometre line between the Strand Rockpool and the Tobruk Memorial Baths defines the Townsville Pool To Pool. Held on a Sunday in late May in Townsville, Queensland, this open water swimming race takes place entirely in the sea. The event is organized by the Townsville Open Water Swimming Association as part of the TOWSA Swim Series, drawing swimmers to the foreshore. The headline 2 km event, called the Pool to Pool, starts at the Strand Rockpool and follows the coastline to finish at the Tobruk Memorial Baths. Alongside it, a 1 km distance known as the Strand Sprint sets off from Strand Park Beach, joining the course to finish at the Tobruk Pool. Swimmers move along the coastline of Cleveland Bay in calm, tropical conditions with reliably warm water. Sighting parallel to the shore, the gentle surface allows you to settle into an uninterrupted stroke while the beach rolls by.

The Strand bathing history: tidal baths, enclosures and Tobruk

Saltwater bathing along The Strand has evolved over more than a century of coastal adaptation. Public outdoor swimming baths were first built along the shore between 1886 and 1889, and were filled daily by tidal actions. Military fortifications were established on the rocky headland of Kissing Point in 1891. To protect swimmers, a dedicated sharkproof swimming enclosure was built by the Queensland Country Women's Association by 1929. At the southern end of the race course, the Tobruk Memorial Baths were constructed between 1941 and 1950 to honor servicemen from the Siege of Tobruk. {{h2:The Ocean Siren sculpture and the offshore coral reefs}} Along the coastline of The Strand sits the Ocean Siren, a water sculpture that changes color based on nearby water temperature. The artwork shifts its illumination according to live water temperature data received from the Davies Reef weather station. In May 2023, the Ocean Sentinels snorkel trail was installed at John Brewer Reef, offering shallow-water exploration. Earlier plans to install sculptures at Magnetic Island were cancelled due to concerns regarding their placement in a marine park green zone.

The Strand beyond the baths: marina, park and night markets

The Strand stretches about 2.5 kilometres along the coast in the centre of Townsville. From the Strand there is a view of the Port of Townsville, Magnetic Island and Cape Cleveland. Breakwater Marina sits at the southeastern end of the Strand, with jet ski tours and yachts bobbing in the marina. The Strand’s Rock Pool is a man-made swimming lagoon with salt water, a more protected setting for a swim than the open beach. Features along the foreshore include a jetty, a recreational park, restaurants, cafes and pools. The Strand also hosts monthly night markets and the Strand Ephemera Sculpture Festival.

Ross Creek estuary: early wharves and marine turtle care

Ross Creek is an estuarine section of the Ross River that forms a bay inlet at the Coral Sea. Ross Creek separates the Townsville central business district from Ross Island, which is situated between Ross Creek, the Ross River, and the Coral Sea. In 1864, John Melton Black constructed the first wharf in this area to facilitate wool exports. The Port of Townsville developed between the mouth of Ross Creek and the Ross River, with shipping access through Cleveland Bay. A breakwater was constructed in 1874 to increase the port's capacity for larger ships. Before the outer harbour was built in 1892, Ross Creek served as the sole port for Townsville.

Ocean-going vessels moored out in Cleveland Bay, and passengers were moved to the northern shore of the creek using lighters. Until 1889, the only way to cross Ross Creek was by ferry. That changed when the Victoria Bridge was built over Ross Creek between 1888 and 1889. The bridge featured a central pivoting mechanism to allow ships to navigate the shallow waters of Ross Creek, providing a deeper channel on the left for large ships and a shallower lane on the right for smaller craft. Originally powered by a gas-fueled Otto engine housed in the central drum, the crossing was converted into a pedestrian walkway with shops in 1988, and the engine was removed and placed at the city end of the bridge in 1991.

Ross Creek also connects to modern maritime history. The patrol boat HMAS Townsville was berthed at the former Curtain Bros. wharf in Ross Creek from 2007 to 2015. During its service years, the patrol boat conducted operations in the Coral Sea in February 1994. In December 1981, HMAS Townsville pursued a Taiwanese fishing vessel that had escaped from Trinity Inlet. In January 1992, the ship supported clearance divers disposing of undetonated bombs at Middleton Reef, and in May 1999 operated off Thursday Island to conduct a sweep for illegal maritime activity. The marine ecosystem is highlighted at Reef HQ.

Its Coral Reef Exhibit tank held approximately 2.5 million litres of water and was designed to be open to the elements, allowing for natural precipitation, sunlight, and moonlight. Equipped with a pneumatic wave machine to simulate water motion, the exhibit contained 130 coral species and 120 fish species. The facility also featured a dedicated turtle hospital that rehabilitated sea turtles for release into the wild. Opened on August 24, 2009, it was the first facility in north Queensland dedicated to turtle rehabilitation.