The Palmetum, Townsville, Arboretum in Townsville, Australia

The Palmetum is a 17-hectare botanical garden in Annandale, Townsville, devoted to the palm family Arecaceae. It holds about 300 species from all six subfamilies, roughly half native to Australia, and a boardwalk follows the wetland and a small inlet of the Ross River.

The Palmetum opened officially in September 1988 as a project marking Australia's Bicentenary. Townsville's Japanese sister city Tokuyama funded the first development of the Licuala Walk and the Tokuyama Garden, finished in 1996. The Blackhawk Memorial followed in 1997, dedicated to 18 soldiers killed in a training accident at the High Range Training Area. Tumbetin Lodge, built in 1934 as St Francis Xavier School, was moved to the site in 1993.

A dedicated garden section reflects the connection to Tokuyama, Townsville's Japanese sister city, bringing another culture directly into the visitor's experience. This relationship shapes how parts of the grounds are designed and used by people who come to walk through them.

The Palmetum lies in Annandale, near Ross River, James Cook University and Townsville Hospital. A boardwalk follows the wetland path and loops around a small inlet of the Ross River. The grounds are open every day of the year; a map is available from Townsville Parks Service.

Tumbetin Lodge, built in 1934 by the Catholic Church on a railway estate, served as St Francis Xavier School until 1975 and was moved to the Palmetum in 1993. It is built mainly of Australian silky oak (Grevillea robusta) and now houses the information centre, function rooms and the Palmetum restaurant.