military operations, leading to a directive in November 1942 that the Causeway Red Light District was out of bounds for troops. In 1945 some houses burned down in the area and another was washed away in the flood. In 1969 the Townsville City Council resumed all of the properties in the area and demolished them, renaming Herauld Street to be Ford Street and Brodie Street, in order to remove the bad reputation of the area. Hermit Park Special School opened in January 1979 and closed in 1979. In the Hermit Park had a population of 3,414 people. Facilities The Family History Association of North Queensland operates a library at 5 Baker Street (); the society supports the research and study of family and local history and related subjects. References External links Suburbs of Townsville