08/05/2026
Great bit of Townsville history from Townsville Citylibraries! Castle Hill, or Cutheringa, has always been one of our most iconic local landmarks, and this 1980 "Mountathon" is such a fun reminder of the community spirit around it.
For anyone keen to learn more about Castle Hill, its walking tracks, history, and natural features, we have an article here:
http://wanderstories.space/castle-hill
| When Castle Hill became a mountain (for a day!) ⛰️
On Tuesday 8 July 1980, hundreds of students from Heatley High School took on a truly uphill challenge — transforming Castle Hill into a mountain… at least temporarily!
Dubbed the “Mountathon,” this creative fundraiser saw students form a long line up the hill, each carrying buckets of soil to the summit. Their mission? To build up the height of Castle Hill and push it into official “mountain” status.
At the top, the soil was poured into a 3-metre-high wooden pyramid, proudly topped with a flag — a symbol of their collective effort and school spirit. The project was all in support of raising funds for a new assembly hall and gymnasium.
Townsville Mayor Perc Tucker was there to mark the occasion, unveiling a plaque and declaring:
“We are now standing on top of what, for a short time anyway, is officially Castle Mountain. You may be interested to know that your project today has given Castle Hill its proper status. The hill is officially called Cutheringa Mountain — so the person who named it must have known this would happen one day.”
Despite the students’ determination, Castle Hill — standing at 275.8 metres — still fell just 18.9 metres short of true mountain height. But for one day, thanks to the energy and imagination of these students, Townsville had its very own “mountain.”
⛰️ Do you remember the Mountathon or know someone who took part? Relive the excitement and share your memories about this iconic event! Register with Stories of Townsville and add your recollections of our local history today: https://stories.townsville.qld.gov.au/
