meltonhill

John Melton Black is credited with being the “practical” founder of Townsville. Townsville may not have grown to become the “Capital of North Queensland” without this man’s energy, vision and enterprise. Black set his sights on the vast tracts of unsettled lands in North Queensland as an opportunity for pastoral wealth. He sent his station manager to explore Cleveland Bay for a suitable site for a port. Ross Creek was identified and became the site of Townsville’s early development. In late 1864, under Black’s management, the first wharf, store and buildings were erected at the mouth of Ross Creek. For the next few years, Black was the driving force behind the new settlement. He worked as the town surveyor, builder, storekeeper, shipping agent, stockman and newspaper editor. When the town was proclaimed a municipality, he became Mayor for the first two terms. Troubled by failing health, the hardships of pioneer life and a strained relationship with Robert Towns, Black returned to Sydney in 1867, selling his share of the business to Towns. Black never returned to Townsville. However, the Townsville community sent him a beautifully designed gold cup that recognized “valuable services In opening up and developing the resources of North Queensland”. Black later married and settled in England. He died in London in 1919 aged 89. Source: www.townsville.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/109...

From John Mathew’s “Highways and Byways”… Melton Terrace, Melton Hill. Shown as Cleveland Street on the first survey plan of the city. The name was changed to Melton Terrace in 1969. Melton Hill, Melton Street, Melton Lane, and Melton Black Drive were all named in honor of John Melton Black, one of the founders of Townsville, and whose home was built on the crest of Melton Hill. The name Melton Hill was used at the first land sale, of Townsville land, held in Bowen in 1865. Melton Street has now merged into Willmett Street and Melton Lane is now the present day Herbert street. Source: s0.whitepages.com.au/aebf45b8-75f4-421f-813a-83a14f1a2ad1...

Townsville City is a strip of land along the northern-eastern bank Ross Creek at its mouth at the Coral Sea, thus the suburb is bounded to the north by the Coral Sea and to the south-east by Ross Creek. It is overlooked to the west by Castle Hill. The land is mostly low-lying, just about sea level, apart from Melton Hill (19.2559°S 146.8189°E) which creates a natural boundary to North Ward to the north-west. Source: www.wikiwand.com/en/Townsville_City,_Queensland