The French Foreign Legion parading through Sidi- Bel-Abbes in l908 when it was notorious for having what was colourfully termed the street of a thousand latrines . In Townsville, Queen City of the North and a garrison town , part of Flinders Street , in the CBD , is far from flush , on the nose . Furthermore, it continues to be a blot on the city despite the efforts of this blog to get Townville authorities and local media to get their act together .
The area includes the neglected Victory in the Pacific 50th anniversary fountain (laughingly at the start of the Civic Pride Trail ) and nearby grotty bus shelter . On May 9 , this was the situation at this location , near the Townsville Travel Central , which has a large railway tower exterior clock which has been showing the time is about 7.45 for years.
Making this precinct supremely eligible as a challenge to the street of a thousand latrines, is that the fountain brickwork is visibly leaking in several places . Another hubcap , above , a corroding drink can and bottletop were visible inside the top chamber, increasing signs of concrete lining collapsing . In the bottom chamber , the water level low , there for at least two months , was a junk food container , a large stick , lots of leaves and one of the spotlights appeared to have been twisted. The fountain is a short distance from the Townsville Bulletin office .
A short walk along the footpath, with brickwork missing , endangering pedestrians, the bus shelter was in yet another filthy state , graffiti galore , making a strong case for inclusion in a directory of international streets of a thousand latrines notoriety . This sorry state of affairs exists just across the road from the revamped Newmarket Hotel which it is hoped will again highlight its art deco outline .
Amazingly, while these photographs were taken , workmen , with a wide range of tools were -again - mowing , blowing away leaves and trimming foliage in the adjoining Railway Oval area -without doing anything to the fountain . In all fairness, it must be said that Darwin , in the Northern Territory , has a long , inglorious record in this matter. See Little Darwin serve posted in 2009 , DARWIN-CRAPITAL OF THE NT .
QUESTION: Who was the annoying bloke who pushed his mate into the urinal at Townsville's Shamrock Hotel ? While on the subject of lavatory humour , it is increasingly being said , with expletives, that the piss poor media coverage of Townsville , Magnetic Island and beyond badly needs a shake up . Moves are afoot for a challenge.
QUESTION: Who was the annoying bloke who pushed his mate into the urinal at Townsville's Shamrock Hotel ? While on the subject of lavatory humour , it is increasingly being said , with expletives, that the piss poor media coverage of Townsville , Magnetic Island and beyond badly needs a shake up . Moves are afoot for a challenge.
