Townsville - James Cook University

Townsville is an important educational and cultural center. In addition to the Institute of Education to the south of the town there is the impressive complex of the James Cook University, the first in Australia to offer a course of studies in tourism.

The Australian Institute of Marine Science which is attached to the University is one of the world's leading research institutes in the field of marine biology. The head office of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is also in Townsville.