Townsville Squash Centre
I was the owner of the first squash racquet courts built in North Queensland in 1960. They were situated at 156 Charters Towers road Townsville and were officially opened by the Mayor of Townsville Mr Angus J Smith on the 26th February 1961.
The land for the courts was purchased on the 25th October 1959 from Hjalmar Alfred Lance Barton. The land was previously used as a tennis court with lights for night play.
Plans for the court went through a twelve month process with the Council.
Initially the general understanding of Squash was of a softdrink, the game of squash was little known in North Queensland. At first the court building was mistaken for a softdrink factory. I built the courts to the rear of the land in case my venture failed. I believed that in this case a shop or other premise could be built on the front of the block and the court used as a storage facility. There was no offstreet parking laws in those days. A building did not have to provide off street parking.
Some things that may interest people are : I ran the courts. An employee in 1963 was earning 14 pounds 13 shillings for 40 hours a week and paying 1 pound 5 shillings in tax! There were 2 courts and I eventually added 2 more courts. Hot and cold showers and toilets were provided for both players and spectators with games commencing at 6am and continuing through the day until 11pm. To the front of the block was a well which was initially used to provide water for the tennis court. If this was ever dug up someone would be surprised to find around 4,000 pair of used squash shoes!!
Next to the courts was a big corner store of the name Thomas and Gray, which was eventually replaced by the first Kentucky Fried Chicken store in Townsville.
The hire of the courts were 15 shillings per hour. You could hire shoes, balls and racquets. Many of Townsville's prominent citizens used squash to keep fit and mentally alert.
The courts were leased from me for a while and then they were sold to John and Susan Cahill on 11 February 1969. John and Susan Cahill renamed it the Hermit Park Squash Centre.
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