[1] During the second half of the 19th century international instability gave rise to concerns about military preparedness in the Australian colonies.

Despite the establishment of No.4 Battery and Garrison Artillery there was still some concern in the Townsville community about the preparedness of the city for attack during the 1880s and early 1890s.

[1] Efforts were made to improve Queensland's defence force, however these were unsatisfactory and volunteers continued to attend parades at their own expense.

In a move to improve the situation the Queensland Government introduced the Defence Act of 1884, which provided for permanent artillery and a partially paid militia.

The drawings indicate that the existing Staff Quarters, Stores and Offices Building, Stables and small shed were to be retained, but that the original drill hall was to be removed.

[1] In 1889 James Bevan Edwards, a senior regular British officer, visited Australia to advise the colonies on how to improve their military defences.

His visit reflected both local and imperial concerns including moves towards Federation and hostile incursions into the Pacific Region.

Edwards, basing his ideas on what was happening in Europe and England, advised the Australian colonies to amalgamate their permanent forces and to form a federal voluntary militia from their paid citizen soldiers.

Compulsory military training was instigated after the war for young men between the ages of eighteen and nineteen, who lived in cities and large towns.

Two timber framed, corrugated iron store buildings along Mitchell Street were demolished in August 2000, one of which appears to have been the c. 1890 stables.

[1] Concrete block toilets were constructed to the rear of the Drill Hall at the time women were allowed to join the armed forces in the late 20th century.

[1] The former North Ward Defence Complex is located on a town block bounded by Oxley, Leichhardt and Mitchell Streets and the Strand.

The building has timber double hung windows and a pair of original V-jointed board doors at ground floor level.

The interior of the building, while possibly retaining some of its original form, has been converted into office space and extensively remodelled.

The structure is exposed wooden stud framing to the verandah side with beaded lining boards facing the rooms.

[1] The former staff quarters was relocated on the site after the closure of the defence facility, now sitting between the former stores and drill hall and fronting onto Mitchell Street.

[2] The former North Ward Defence Complex was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 August 2006 having satisfied the following criteria.

These buildings also are important in illustrating the principal characteristics of the work of the Queensland Government Architect's Office in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

As a mainly pre-1945 military complex, the North Ward Defence Complex is important in illustrating the principal characteristics of its type, including the composition and arrangement of buildings and structures, and is significant for its contribution to an understanding of the infrastructure required for the training of volunteer militia in Queensland prior to the Second World War.

[1] The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organisation of importance in Queensland's history.