Townsville Citylibraries

Colour your life with a library 🌈📚

Learn, discover and connect with free library resources to build a more vibrant life ✨

👀 Send this to someone who doesn’t know they need a library card yet

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DOUBLE DINOSAUR 🤯🦖
Back to back dino Messy Plays these holidays 🦕🦖
📍 Riverway | Monday 29 June
📍 Alma Bay | Tuesday 30 June

More information: https://bit.ly/4efemYi

🏎 Start your engines at Flinders St! The Supercars team are once again offering under 18s in Townsville the chance to colour in and win.

🏁 Go in the draw to win 1 of 5 double passes & merchandise packs to the NTI Townsville 500, this July 10-12.

🖍 Pick up a colouring-in page (and some racing books) from Citylibraries Flinders St and return your entry by Wednesday 01 July.

👉 Find out more about Race Weekend: https://www.supercars.com/events/2026-townsville

Looking for a free kids activity this weekend? 🦖 Visit the Dinosaur Den at Citylibraries Riverway. A drop-in space for dino fun, games, puzzles, and books! 🦕

ℹ️ For more information visit: https://whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au/events/dinosaur-den

Everyone deserves to see themselves on the shelves 🏳️‍🌈

This Pride Month, celebrate stories, identities and experiences that reflect our whole community- no matter your age, background or where you’re at in your journey.

📚 Browse Pride reads in branch or online
🌈 Find stories across all ages and experiences
💬 Discover our spaces, where you’re welcome exactly as you are

Pop in, browse, or borrow online.
✨ Your next read is waiting: https://bit.ly/4aDhlJ4

|Magnetic Island’s Big Bertha and Mighty Maggie 🚌

This week’s Flashback Friday takes us back to 1991, with these two well-known Magnetic Island buses, named Big Bertha and Mighty Maggie.

Bus services on Magnetic Island have a long and fascinating history. The first service began in the 1940s, operating between Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay through Clarke and Hennequin. A route between Arcadia and Nelly Bay soon followed, run by Charlie Gifford, before both services were taken over by Alf Armour in the 1950s.

A wider island service linking Picnic Bay, Nelly Bay, Arcadia and Horseshoe Bay commenced in 1960. Initially operated by Mr Mears, the service was purchased by the Eastwood family in 1978. At that time, the fleet included three 1942 Chevrolet buses with canvas windows that had been serving the island since the 1950s. Many locals may remember one of these buses, nicknamed Galloping Gerty, which later found a home in a truck and bus museum in Sydney.

Under the Eastwood family’s management, the Magnetic Island Bus Service became renowned for its friendly, personal service and reliable timetable. Thea Eastwood’s contribution to local tourism was recognised in 2005 when she was inducted into Townsville Enterprise’s Tourism Hall of Fame. By the 2007–08 financial year, the service was carrying more than 357,000 passengers annually.

The bus service remained family-owned until 2008, when it was sold to Transit Australia. Today, Magnetic Island’s bus network is operated by Kinetic.

While we know a little about the history of island bus services, we’d love to learn more about the specific buses pictured here. Do you remember Big Bertha or Mighty Maggie? Do you have any stories, photographs or memories of travelling on Magnetic Island buses over the years? Share them with us at Stories of Townsville: https://stories.townsville.qld.gov.au/

Awesome Auslan programs are back at Townsville Citylibraries this weekend!

We’re all set up for Songtime at Western Lions Park, Heatley 🌳🎶

Join us from 8.30-11am for:
🪪 Library memberships
📚 Book borrowing
🎶 Song and rhymes from 9.30-10am
☕️ Coffee van

See you there 👋