In 1924, A Torres Strait Islander and beche-de mer lugger skipper named Douglas Pitt became the first to swim the five mile stretch of water from Magnetic Island to Townsville.

In 1954, three brave young surf lifesavers emulated Pitt's achievement to celebrate the visit to Townsville of the young Queen Elizabeth.  A race was born.  Forrest Beach's Kauko Kaurila beat home locals Don Howlett and George Marshall in flimsy wood and chook-wire cages supported by oil drums.









Throughout the 1950s and 60s, the City's businesses got behind the biggest event of the year, with a 55-page program published outlining the fishing, woodchopping, running, pony club and cycling competitions as well as the parades and beauty contest, talent quest, fireworks, swim carnival, dance and carnival and parachute jumping.

The ANZAC Park fountain and the Strand Waterfall were financed by the swim.  The event has struggled over the last decade in the absence of big out-of-town money that changed it so much in the 1980s & 90s but has been developed into a great beach-to-beach spectacle based on Townsville's wonderful Strand Beach.

Australian swimming icons who have competed in past Magnetic Island Swims include long-distance legends Susie Maroney and Shelley Taylor-Smith; Olympians Duncan Armstrong, Tracey Wickham, Glen Housman and Steve Holland; and Iron men Dean Mercer and Guy Leech. Swimming coach, Laurie Lawrence, also has a long-standing connection with the swim as has our own Penny Palfrey. Dawn Fraser was guest starter for the 2000 swim.

History of Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim