Riverway, Townsville
Encyclopedia
Riverway is a riverfront parkland attraction located in the Condon
Suburb of Townsville
that opened in July 2006. It stretches along 11 km (7 mi) of the Ross River
, with areas at Pioneer Park, Loam Island, Apex Park and Ross Park at the Ross River Dam
. The areas of Riverway that have been completed are Pioneer Park and Loam Island. Riverway is connected directly to the Thuringowa Central
business district via a pathway along the foreshore
.
is part of the second stage of Riverway and consists of an international standard AFL
and cricket
stadium with a capacity of 10,000+.
n improvised music trio, The Necks
recorded their third live album
, Townsville
(2007), at the Riverway Arts Centre.
Construction of this precinct is to commence in 2008/9.
In 1970 poisoning and bulldozing of the Chinee Apple trees started, along with drainage works and mowing. The road that traveled along the river was closed to traffic and clubhouses and toilets were built on the site in 1971. It was a pre-war tradition to plant raintrees in the reserve and this was continued by the Thuringowa Council. These trees still stand today, shading the roadway into the Riverway.
During the early 1970s the Thuringowa Council and residents entered into discussion's about what to name the reserve, suggestions including: Upper Ross Sports Complex, The Kirwan Sports Reserve, Vickers Park, Ross River Memorial Park and Upper Ross Memorial Park, however the Thuringowa Council officially named the reserve the Pioneer Sporting Complex in October 1971.
Over the years, Pioneer Sporting Complex had many small upgrades and was and still is used by many sporting teams and clubs, and became better known as 'Pioneer Park',. However as the population of Thuringowa was growing at a fast rate the need for more recreational activities in the area also increased.,
. Stage Three is the area consisting of Apex Park and the Upper Ross Shopping Centre area.
Condon, Queensland
Condon is a suburb in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Condon is part of the Upper Ross District and is the first of three suburbs along Riverway Drive. Condon's first residential development was in 1968; it was named after the Condon family who had settled on the Ross River and had a dairy...
Suburb of Townsville
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
that opened in July 2006. It stretches along 11 km (7 mi) of the Ross River
Ross River, Queensland
The Ross River is a river located in northern Queensland, Australia. The river flows from Lake Ross, through the city of Townsville, across the flat coastal plain and into the Coral Sea of the Pacific Ocean...
, with areas at Pioneer Park, Loam Island, Apex Park and Ross Park at the Ross River Dam
Ross River Dam
The Ross River Dam is located at the end of Riverway Drive in the city of Townsville, Australia, and is the major water supply for the region. It was constructed by Leighton Holdings in 1971 for the purposes of flood mitigation and water storage...
. The areas of Riverway that have been completed are Pioneer Park and Loam Island. Riverway is connected directly to the Thuringowa Central
Thuringowa Central, Queensland
Thuringowa Central is a suburb and a commercial hub in western Townsville, Queensland. It was the central business district of the former City of Thuringowa before its amalgamation with the adjacent City of Townsville in 2008. While consisting of predominantly commercial buildings it also contains...
business district via a pathway along the foreshore
Foreshoreway
A foreshoreway is a type of greenway that provides a public right of way along the edge of a waterbody.Foreshoreways are usually focused on sustainable behaviours and hence are a common facility for sustainable transport. The terminology was derived to assist to avoid the perception of a pavement...
.
Village Boulevard
Village Boulevard is the name of the road into Pioneer Park and forms the city/park integration. From the car park it extends through the park as a pedestrian spine that follows the rivers edge and forms the heart of Pioneer Park.Tony Ireland Stadium
The Tony Ireland StadiumTony Ireland Stadium
The Tony Ireland Stadium is an international standard AFL and cricket stadium in Thuringowa Central, Townsville, Australia. The stadium is a part of the Riverway sporting and cultural complex.-Facilities:...
is part of the second stage of Riverway and consists of an international standard AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
stadium with a capacity of 10,000+.
Riverway Arts Centre
Riverway Arts Centre is a geographical formation with a grass roof integrated into the surrounding parkland, without decreasing the available grassed area. It also lowers the interior temperature by reducing the roof surface temperature. The Pinnacles Art Gallery is also in this building. The AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n improvised music trio, The Necks
The Necks
The Necks are an experimental jazz trio from Sydney, Australia, comprising Chris Abrahams on piano and Hammond organ, Tony Buck on drums, percussion and electric guitar and Lloyd Swanton on bass guitar and double bass...
recorded their third live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
, Townsville
Townsville (album)
Townsville is the fourteenth album and fourth live album by Australian improvised music trio The Necks first released on the Fish of Milk label in 2007 and on the ReR label internationally. The album a single track, titled "Townsville", performed by Chris Abrahams, Lloyd Swanton and Tony Buck...
(2007), at the Riverway Arts Centre.
Riverway's Village precinct
Riverway's Village precinct is a planned retail and dining strip with exclusive boutiques, gift shops, health and beauty salons and gourmet food outlets.Construction of this precinct is to commence in 2008/9.
History
Before what is now the Riverway, this area was a Camping Reserve for the army's R72 and after the future of Camping Reserve (Renamed R326) was being debated and had been left unused, the then Thuringowa Shire Council made a decision that the area remain un-subdivided for community use, and with the demand for recreational space growing, along with the Upper Ross population, this area was the best location.In 1970 poisoning and bulldozing of the Chinee Apple trees started, along with drainage works and mowing. The road that traveled along the river was closed to traffic and clubhouses and toilets were built on the site in 1971. It was a pre-war tradition to plant raintrees in the reserve and this was continued by the Thuringowa Council. These trees still stand today, shading the roadway into the Riverway.
During the early 1970s the Thuringowa Council and residents entered into discussion's about what to name the reserve, suggestions including: Upper Ross Sports Complex, The Kirwan Sports Reserve, Vickers Park, Ross River Memorial Park and Upper Ross Memorial Park, however the Thuringowa Council officially named the reserve the Pioneer Sporting Complex in October 1971.
Over the years, Pioneer Sporting Complex had many small upgrades and was and still is used by many sporting teams and clubs, and became better known as 'Pioneer Park',. However as the population of Thuringowa was growing at a fast rate the need for more recreational activities in the area also increased.,
Construction
Riverway Stage One included the construction of two swimming lagoons, the Riverway Arts Centre, Pinnacles Gallery, the Riverwalk, public art, village spine and parklands. Stage Two involved the construction of the Riverway Stadium, now named the Tony Ireland StadiumTony Ireland Stadium
The Tony Ireland Stadium is an international standard AFL and cricket stadium in Thuringowa Central, Townsville, Australia. The stadium is a part of the Riverway sporting and cultural complex.-Facilities:...
. Stage Three is the area consisting of Apex Park and the Upper Ross Shopping Centre area.