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 Brisbane, with a 2006 census population of 143,328, and a 2009–2010 estimated population of 185,768.Considered the capital of North Queensland, Townsville hosts a significant number of governmental, community and major business administrative offices for the northern half of the state.