Townsville confirmed as Australia’s biggest veteran centre

Townsville’s status as Australia’s largest garrison city has been confirmed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in the release of the Census 2021 results today.

FILE PHOTO (2020): Soldiers and officers of the 3RAR Battlegroup stand ready on parade after an equipment inspection at Lavarack Barracks. Photo by Corporal Daniel Strutt.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the results of the Census 2021 has shown that Townsville hosts the highest number of residents with military service.

“Around 14,200 current and former ADF personnel call Townsville home, comprising 8700 veterans and 5500 current-serving ADF members,” Minister Keogh said.

“Out of a city of 180,000 people this means almost one in 10 people in this great community have served our country.

“This data is more than just something to be proud of for Townsville – it clearly tells us as a government that this is a community where we can invest in even more services and support tailored to the defence and veteran communities.

“A fit-for-purpose Veterans and Families Hub is already supporting the 14,200 strong defence and veteran community in Townsville after officially opening in October last year to provide localised and targeted support services to veterans and families in the area.

“I have had the opportunity to talk to veterans and their families while visiting The Oasis Townsville today and seen first-hand how this hub supports veterans and their families and connects them to the services and help that they need.”

Census 2021 has reported more than 581,139 people have stated they have served or are currently serving in the ADF.

There is a veteran residing in one in every 20 Australian households.

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