Townsville was established by private enterprise in 1864 who needed a port north of the floodprone Burdekin River to support the nascent cattle industry. Named in honour of Robert Towns who provided the initial financial support. This view is taken from Castle Hill and looks south toward the Ross Creek with the Custom House in the middle ground. It was drawn by James Howe Carse, a Scottish landscape artist who arrived in Australia in 1867. He painted and exhibited both in Australia and New Zealand for several years and then became one of the artists travelling around Australia drawing the preliminary scenes for Edwin Carton Booth's "Australia Illustrated." With the completion of this work, Carse settled in Sydney and in 1876 was considered " the best painter in the colony."
1874
Steel engraving.
Later hand-colour.
120 x 190 mm. Image size.
Good condition.