Rosslea is bounded to the east and south by the Ross River. The suburb is very flat (approx 5m above sea level). The eastern half of the suburb is occupied by the Townsville Golf Club (). The rest of the suburb is residential.[3]Townsville Connection Road runs through from south to north-west.[4]
Being low-lying on a river, Rosslea can be affected by flooding, mostly in the golf club area.[5]
The name "Rosslea" is a combination of "Ross" (representing the Ross River) and "lea", the Old English word for a grassy meadow.[2]
The Townsville Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Queensland, having been established at Kissing Point in 1893. The club relocated to Aitkenvale in 1921, and then relocated to Rosslea on 18 April 1924.[7]
There are no government schools in Rosslea. The nearest government primary schools are Mundingburra State School in neighbouring Mundingburra to the west, Oonoonba State School in neighbouring Idalia to the south-east, and Hermit Park State School in Hyde Park to the north. The nearest government secondary schools are William Ross State High School in neighbouring Annandale to the south and Pimlico State High School in Gulliver to the north-west.[3]