Primary contact
1 James Cook Drive, DouglasTownsville, Queensland 4811
James Cook University (JCU) is the second oldest university in Queensland with its main campuses in Cairns and Townsville, and one in Singapore.
The university's predecessor, the University College of Townsville was opened in 1961. By an Act of the Queensland Parliament, the College became the 'James Cook University of North Queensland' and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1970. In 1982, the university amalgamated with the Townsville College of Advanced Education and, in 1991, the School of Art and Design of the Townsville College of TAFE was transferred to the university. It became 'James Cook University' in 1998.
The Archives collection of the Library came into existence in 1970 with the acquisition of the papers of Jean Devanny, an important Australian writer who spent much of her life in north Queensland and wrote extensively about the region. Following receipt of the Delamothe Bequest in 1977, a deliberate decision was made to actively acquire regional archives.
The archives collection is held on the JCU Townsville, Bebegu Yumba campus, Douglas and the JCU Cairns, Nguma-bada campus, Smithfield.