LOCATION: Gulliver Street, Mundingburra

• Introduction
• The History
• The Plant Collection
• Map
• Council Events
• Facilities
• How to get There
• Open Hours
• Contact

Anderson Park is an arboretum containing fine specimens of tropical tree ferns, palms and pandanus. Of note is an area devoted to tropical fruit and economic plants. A representative collection of Cape York Peninsula rainforest plants and examples of North East Queensland plants are also to be found.

Anderson Park is a sleeping beauty amongst Townsville's numerous natural attractions.

With substantial botanic credentials, including the Cape York Peninsula Collection one of the world's largest collections of pandanus, everyday visitors as well as botanical enthusiasts can enjoy Anderson Park's diverse range of tropical attractions.

The giant expanses of the 20 hectare park belie the care and consideration which is taken in the development of individual species for the public's enjoyment.

The park was first developed in the early 1930's and, today, is an innovative botanic accomplishment and wonderful public asset.

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THE HISTORY

The original land for Anderson Park was acquired from the Water and Electricity Supply Department in 1929. Much of the land is now  Mundingburra State School, (including the original Thuringowa well), road reserve, and the Jubilee Bowls Club. Most of the existing Park was acquired between 1956 and 1963 as land acquisitions.

The Park was named in appreciation of the work of William Anderson (1845 - 1935), City of Townsville's first Curator of Parks (1878 - 1934). The present design was prepared in 1962 by Alan Wilson, a Landscape Architect and Superintendent of Parks.

The Plant collection was originally laid out  in Taxonomic groupings.

The Queensland Rainforest Section was developed as  a joint project between the 'Society for Growing Australian Plants, Townsville Branch' and the Parks Department (1989 - 1991).

The land on which Anderson Park now resides once contained market gardens, sugar cane fields and a well supplying Townsville’s earliest water reticulation scheme.

Land for Anderson Park was officially acquired from the Water and Electricity Supply Department in 1929.

In 1932, the Park was officially re-named after William Anderson, the Council’s first Curator of Parks (from 1878 – 1934). And in the same year the earliest recorded plantings occurred; these Raintree, Eucalyptus and Melaleuca trees now dominate the landscape.

Anderson Park’s design, originally laid out in taxonomic groupings, was prepared in 1962 by Alan Wilson, Superintendent of Parks (from 1959 – 1969).

Today Anderson Park is an arboretum (focuses on growing trees) containing fine specimens of tropical tree, palms and pandanus. Of note is an area devoted to tropical fruit and economic plants.

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THE PLANT COLLLECTION

• Pandanus - Renowned to be the largest cultivated collection of Pandanus in any Botanic Garden. It includes most of the Australian species as well as others from New Guinea, South-East Asia, the western Pacific Islands and Madagascar. The exotic species of the Pandanus are grouped together near the Palm Lawn, while the Australian species are near the Cape York Section.
  
  
• Cape York Section - This area features palms, gingers, Australian pandanus and ornamental trees from Far North Queensland including Cape York Peninsula.
  
  
• Palms - A wide range of palms are displayed in an open setting. Especially impressive are those from drier climates such as Bismarckia nobilis; Orbignya cohune, Hyphaene and Latania species.
  
  
• Conservatory - Is open only by appointment. It houses a collection of tropical plants including bromeliads, gingers, aroids, nepenthes (Pitcher plants), palms and cycads.
  
  
• Tropical Fruit Orchard - A good representation of fruit trees and plants with edible parts suited to the tropics. Includes commonly grown species such as Lychee, Black Sapote, Papaw, Citrus and less common fruit such as Bread Fruit, Wampi, Miracle Fruit, Dates, Cashews, Jack Fruit, and  Longan. Plants with edible parts include palm hearts, Cinnamon, Cloves, Coffee, Tumeric and Ginger.

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COUNCIL EVENTS

Barefoot in the Park

FACILITIES

How to Get There

Anderson Park is accessible by vehicle travelling south along Gulliver Street and by foot off Fulham Road, Balls Lane, Gulliver and Wellington Street. There are car parking spaces provided within the grounds around the circuit roadway. Vehicles are not permitted to park on the lawn. Public Conveniences are only open on the weekends; unless prior arrangements are made.

Seven days a week, all year, sunrise to sunset.

For more information about Anderson Park, contact Parks Services, Townsville City Council.

PARK BOOKINGS FOR PRIVATE EVENTS, CEREMONIES AND/OR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION MUST BE MADE THROUGH THE TOWNSVILLE CITY COUNCIL’S PARKS SERVICES DEPARTMENT ON 4727 8330.

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