SSAA Townsville Branch

Range Location: Herveys Range Rd, Herveys Range – approximately 28km from the Willows Shopping Centre.

SSAA Townsville – a North Queensland icon (The Report July 2025)

Since 1968, SSAA Townsville has been on the forefront of furthering the shooting sports in its local community. From being a safe haven for shooters to hosting Come-n-Try days, Lions Charity Shoots, annual school events with Ignatius Park College and events for Scouts and women and girls, the branch doesn’t hold back. It is always looking for way to increase membership and make sports shooting a mainstream recreation. 

In addition to being open for shoots on a regular basis to its nearly 3700 members, the branch also has established niche groups, including its ‘Wheelies’ cohort, which is dedicated to the club’s handicapped shooters, and its ‘Coffee Club’ – a weekly pistol shoot aimed at retirees and shift workers who share in coffee and cake after their events. SSAA Townsville has amassed a mighty community of likeminded people who can take part in just about every SSAA pistol, rifle and shotgun discipline available. 

The branch’s range consists of three blocks, spanning 750 acres, with most of the complex sitting on the original 150-acre block. The latest addition is a shotgun range, which makes up the majority of the two other blocks. It is the largest Sporting Clays range open in northern Queensland. Its inaugural shoot took place the end of May. While no imminent major works are underway, the branch is always thinking ahead on how to best cater for its membership, including conducting regular upkeep activities on the property and improving its disability provisions. 

SSAA Townsville started at the Whitnell Range near Lavarack Barracks, then moved to Brook Hill past Stuart on the way to Charters Towers. It then shifted and was sub-leased to the Hervey Range Townsville Marksman Rifle Club around 1976-78. Its next and final move in 2013 resulted in its current location at Hervey Range Road, which is about a 40-minute drive from the Townsville city centre. 

With a club room, kitchen, meeting spaces, reloading areas, numerous toilet blocks and gun ranges, it is no wonder this branch has such a committed and active membership base. It is a well-run range providing a place shooters can come to enjoy their chosen pastime, sight in their firearms, compete, socialise, volunteer, relax, set up camp and improve their shooting skills. When next in sunny north Queensland, make a point to drop in and say ‘hi’ to fellow shooters at SSAA Townsville. 

Contact: 0410 873 741 or townsville@ssaaqld.org.au or visit its Facebook page.