Mackay, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Mackay is a city on the eastern coast of Queensland
, Australia, about 970 kilometres (603 mi) north of Brisbane
, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar.
There is controversy about the geographic location of the region, with most people referring to it as a part of either Central Queensland
or North Queensland
, though much confusion still lies within the Queensland Government, with government services being provided through both Townsville (North Queensland
) and Rockhampton
(Central Queensland
). Generally, the area is known as the Mackay–Whitsunday
Region. Equally, there has always been much contention over the pronunciation of the name Mackay. Correspondence received by Mackay City Library in 2007, from descendants of John Mackay, confirms that the correct pronunciation is məˈkaɪ (rhyming with sky), from the Gaelic name "MacAoidh" which is pronounced "i" not "ay".
One of the first Europeans to travel through the Mackay region was Captain
James Cook
, who reached the Mackay coast on 1 June 1770 and named several local landmarks, including Cape Palmerston
, Slade Point
and Cape Hillsborough
. It was during this trip that the Endeavour
's botanist, Sir Joseph Banks
, briefly recorded seeing Aboriginals
. The City of Mackay was later founded on Yuibera traditional lands.
Although several other maritime explorers sailed through the waters off Mackay, it was not until 1860 when moves were made to claim the region’s virgin pastures.
Two young men, John McCrossin and Scottish-born John Mackay
, assembled a party of eight, including an Aboriginal named Duke, and left Armidale, New South Wales
in January 1860. Two men left the party in Rockhampton
while the others reached the top of the range overlooking the Mackay district's Pioneer Valley in May. After descending into the valley and exploring almost to the mouth of the river, which they named the Mackay, the members of the party selected land and began the trip back to civilisation. On the return journey, they all suffered from a fever that claimed the life of Duke.
Mackay returned to the area with 1,200 head of cattle in January 1862 and founded Greenmount station. Although the other members of his first expedition had marked runs, none but Mackay took up their claims. However, Mackay remained in possession of Greenmount for less than two years. Ownership transferred to James Starr in September 1864 and, despite Mackays protests, he never succeeded in regaining control. Greenmount passed through a number of owners’ hands before being bought by A.A. Cook in 1913. Before leaving the district, John Mackay chartered the vessel Preston, which landed stores from him on the riverbank about a kilometre upstream from the present Hospital Bridge. Mackay made a survey of the river and the chart was sent to Rockhampton. The Port of Mackay was then officially declared a port of entry.
In 1918, Mackay was hit by a major Tropical Cyclone causing severe damage and loss of life with hurricane-force winds and a large storm surge. The resulting death toll was further increased by an outbreak of Bubonic plague
.
The largest loss of life in an Australian aircraft accident was a B17 aircraft, with 40 of 41 people on board perishing, on 14 June 1943, after departing from Mackay Aerodrome, and crashing in the Bakers Creek area.
On 18 February 1958, Mackay was hit with massive flooding caused by heavy rainfall upstream with 878 mm of rain falling at Finch Hatton in 24 hours. The flood peaked at 9.14 metres (29.99 ft). The water flowed down the valley and flooded Mackay within hours. Residents were rescued off rooftops by boats and taken to emergency accommodation. The flood broke Australian records.
On 15 February 2008, almost exactly 50 years from the last major flood, Mackay was devastated by severe flooding caused by over 600 mm of rain in 6 hours with around 2000 homes affected.
Mackay was battered by Tropical Cyclone Ului, a category three cyclone which crossed the coast at nearby Airlie Beach, around 1:30 am on Sunday 21 March 2010. Over 60000 homes lost power and some phone services also failed during the storm, but no deaths were reported.
on the banks of the Pioneer River. The Range lies on the western side of the city, with the Athelstane Range to the west. The city is expanding to accommodate for growth with most of the expansion happening in the Beachside, Southern, Central and Pioneer Valley suburbs.
Mackay has a humid subtropical climate
(CWa) under the Köppen climate classification
.
Mackay is famous for its history as one of Australia's largest cane farming regions. However, in recent years, the mining industry has become the mainstay of the local economy. Heavy investment and planning is also going into Mackays growing tourism industry.
coal mining reserves of Central Queensland
. It is the single largest coal reserve in Australia, with 34 operational coal mines extracting more than 100 million tonnes annually. This represents about 83 per cent of Queensland’s coal production, among its most important export commodities. While much of this is used in Australia, Japan and China
are the largest export recipients. Although coal was reported to be discovered late in the 19th century, it was not until 1971 that the first coal from Goonyella
was produced on a commercial scale.
Over the past 10 years, Mackay has become the location of choice for many mining service companies that supply and consult to the mine operators. This is due to its strategic proximity to the mines, major highways and train lines, and the Hay Point
coal terminals. Most of these companies are headquartered in the suburb of Paget, to the city's south. Global companies to have set up facilities in the area include Caterpillar Inc.
, MMD Sizers, WorleyParsons
and Letourneau Technologies.
Despite the city's benefits, it is widely recognised that Mackay has come to depend too heavily on the mining industry for economic growth. However, the Mackay Regional Council (in conjunction with the Queensland government and other stakeholders) has made efforts to diversify the economic base of the region, particularly into emerging sectors including eco-tourism, bioenergy and the marine industry. The commercial fishing industry has struggled in the last 15 years due to the implementation of government green zones and rising fuel prices, and the labour force being depleted by higher wages offered in the mining sector.
The industry in Mackay has its roots back in the 19th century. Historically, plantations were small and had their own mills to crush the cane during harvest. Over the years as the industry grew and developed, co-operatives were formed to consolidate the harvesting, crushing and distribution of the sugar in selected zones. Throughout the 20th century, the privately owned mills in the Mackay district closed one by one until only four remained – Marian, Racecourse, Farleigh and Pleystowe. Today, Pleystowe is the oldest surviving mill in the district.
Mackay Sugar operates three of these remaining mills, including Racecourse, which became site of the region’s first sugar refinery (which is owned by CSR Limited
) in the 1990s. Growers in the region have a total cane production area of approximately 86,000 hectares. The growers are capable (in good seasons) of supplying up to 6.5 million tonnes of cane to the factories for processing. On average, Mackay Sugar produces about 850,000 tonnes of raw sugar and 180,000 tonnes of the by-product molasses annually. Mackay Harbour is also home to one of the largest bulk-sugar loading terminals in the world.
The sugar industry in Mackay has faced steep challenges over the past 10 years, since it is largely dependent on high world sugar prices to remain viable. However, efforts are going into diversifying the use of sugar cane for different purposes. These include a planned energy co-generation plant that could deliver up to 30 per cent of Mackays annual electricity supply. Use of sugar cane in ethanol-based fuel for vehicles also has strong potential.
, and the Whitsunday Islands
.
Latest figures indicate about 750,000 domestic and international visitors come to the region annually. More telling, however, is that domestic and international visitor night stays have increased to 3.2 million annually, an increase of nearly 1 million since 2000.
Several new hotels have opened in the region since 2000, further indication of a growing industry. These include The Clarion International and Quest Serviced Apartments. Currently under way is the Eastpoint development, a $250 million eco-tourism precinct on the northern bank at the mouth of the Pioneer River, which is expected to draw large numbers of tourists.
A number of other notable facilities have opened in the region over the last decade, providing a wider offering for the tourist market. (Mackays tourism offerings are discussed further below in the section Local attractions.)
Like tourism, the marine industry in Mackay is small but has a lot of potential. Mackay is well situated to become a major service centre for the marine industry, being in immediate proximity to the Whitsundays, and located halfway between Brisbane
and Cairns.
Currently the Mackay Marina is the largest base in the district for the maintenance, refit and related services for all marine craft, particularly Super Yachts. The Mackay Whitsunday Super Yacht Cluster, a group of regional companies focusing on providing integrated repair, refit and provisioning for the increasing number of visiting super yachts, was established in 2001 to support and promote the development of this sector.
is going to be among the new anchor tenants. This expansion is expected to be completed some time in 2011.
Mount Pleasant-Greenfields is the second major shopping centre in the Mackay region. It hosts department stores, supermarkets and other speciality outlets. Outside the main centre, a number of bulky-good outlets also operate, along with a six-screen Greater Union
/ Birch Carroll and Coyle cinema complex.
Construction has also begun on a new shopping centre "Northern Beaches Central" it will be 45,000 sq meters and include stores such as McDonalds, Woolworths, Bi-Lo
.
The Mackay City Heart, located in the older city centre, is also another thriving part of the city. It is the home of many of the region's banks, law, accounting and other professional service firms.
, will complete more than 20 kilometres of dedicated pedestrian paths and bikeways. Nearing completion, the track will link several new attractions and tourism infrastructure pieces around the city including the Bluewater Lagoon, the Bluewater Quay and the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. It also incorporates the Sandfly Creek walkway through East Mackay, and the Catherine Freeman Walk which connects West Mackay to the city under the Ron Camm Bridge.
Located in the south of Mackay, the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens are the start of the Bluewater Trail. The gardens opened and replaced Queen's Park as Mackays botanic gardens in 2003 containing an array of rare plants native to the Mackay area and Central Queensland. Before 2003, the area was commonly called The Lagoons, and is centred on the shores of a billabong that years ago formed part of the Pioneer River further to the north.
Heading east past the Mackay Base Hospital
and along the Catherine Freeman Walk, the Bluewater Lagoon emerges. Comprising three tiered lagoons, the lagoon is a free family-friendly leisure facility overlooking the Pioneer River in the heart of Mackays city centre. A waterfall connects the two main lagoon areas, which vary in depth up to 1.8 metres. Similar to the well-known Streets Beach at the South Bank Parklands in Brisbane
, the lagoon is a popular summertime attraction for locals and visitors.
Further east along the trail is Bluewater Quay. As part of Queensland’s 150th anniversary celebrations, $12 million has been invested into the transformation of River Street, to the immediate east of the Forgan Bridge
. The street now has various public amenities including access to a new viewing platform, upgraded fishing jetty, stage areas, cafes and space for weekend markets. Being 250 metres long, the quay is built around the historic Leichardt Tree (which falls under the Nauclea
evergreen variety), a common meeting point for new migrants to Mackay who arrived at the old Port district along River Street.
and other music, stand-up routines, art exhibitions, dance and other performances.
, and covered in myriad colours depicting the Great Barrier Reef
through to the rainforests of Eungella National Park. Many boutique stores, restaurants, bars and nightclubs are established throughout the precinct.
Lush canefields line the road east along Eungella Road from Mackay. Historic townships established along the banks of the Pioneer River include Pleystowe, Marian, Mirani
, Pinnacle, Gargett
, Finch Hatton and Eungella, at the top of the range. Other townships away from the river include Eton and Farleigh, where tours of working sugar mills and cane farms are available nearby. Many of these townships feature history centres and Queensland country-style pubs.
Perhaps most notable are the natural assets of the Pioneer Valley. These include the walking tracks and swimming holes of Finch Hatton Gorge. The Eungella National Park, located at the very top of the range, is the longest and oldest stretch of subtropical rainforest in Australia, covering more than 51,700 hectares. It is one of the few places where platypus can be seen swimming in the wild, while more than 225 species of bird have been recorded in the surrounding forests.
The islands immediately off Mackay are renowned for their azure blue waters, and are popular with fishermen. St Bees Island in particular is a well- known fishing spot. Brampton Island, to the north-east of the city, is a resort destination, with body therapy, water sports and snorkelling on offer. Flights to Brampton are available from Mackay Airport
, as are boats from the marina. Carlisle, Scawfell and Keswick are other notable islands. Each is a national park surrounded by magnificent coral reefs. During the peak season from June to the end of August, whales can be heard and seen around these islands.
’s premier youth and contemporary music festival. The festival features the best Rock, Hip Hop, Alternative, Folk, Pop and Dance music acts from around Australia.
), and highway 70 (Peak Downs Highway
), pass through Mackay. The A1 connects the city to Townsville and Cairns in the north, and Rockhampton
and Brisbane
in the south. The Peak Downs Highway
connects it to Moranbah
, Clermont
and Emerald
in the south-west.
Road projects under construction in the region include the Forgan Bridge duplication, the Hospital Bridge replacement, the Joint Levee Road and the Mackay-Bucasia Road duplication.
The north coast railway line, operated by Queensland Rail
, meets the western line in the city's south. Trains from Brisbane pass through Mackay and continue through to Townsville and Cairns, including the regular Tilt Train service between Brisbane and Cairns. Minerals from the western line (Moranbah and other coal mining centres) are transported to Hay Point
and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminals for trans-shipment to other destinations. Mackay Harbour deals mainly with sugar exports and visiting cruise ships.
The city is served by Mackay Airport
, from which Qantas
, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways
and Tiger Airways Australia
offer flights to Brisbane
, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as to regional destinations such as Geelong, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton
and Gladstone
. MacAir Airlines
previously provided a limited service into and out of Mackay for mining companies before it went into receivership in 2009.
Mackay Transit Coaches
operates from North Mackay to South Mackay. The area with the best service coverage is Mackay CBD.
in West Mackay, about 4 km from the city centre, is the main hospital for Central Queensland. The Pioneer Valley Hospital
and Mater Hospital are in the city's north.
The Queensland Department of Education has 11 primary schools and three high schools in Mackay. The private system encompasses five primary schools, one secondary college, two P-12 colleges, one P-10 college, one 8–10 college and the state's only 11–12 college.
The Mackay campus of Central Queensland University
is in the rural suburb of Ooralea, while the local campus of James Cook University
is in South Mackay. The city is also home to a TAFE college, which is in the south of the inner city.
Mackay is governed locally by the Mackay Regional Council
, a product of the amalgamation of the former City of Mackay
, formed in 1869, with surrounding shires. The mayor is Col Meng. Tim Mulherin
is the member for the state seat of Mackay and George Christensen is the federal member for Dawson
.
rugby league team played their first season in 2008 in the Queensland Cup
and will act as a feeder team to the North Queensland Cowboys
(NRL
). In soccer, Whitsunday Miners Football Club
represents the Mackay region in the Queensland State League
(QSL) and is a feeder club to the North Queensland Fury
(A-League
). The Mackay Meteorettes (women) and Mackay Meteors (men) represent the region in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) and are feeder clubs to the Townsville Fire
(WNBL
) and Townsville Crocodiles
(NBL
) respectively.
& Sea FM
networks, MY105 FM Hot Country & Legends, 4MK AM, Zinc FM and the ABC's local Tropical North
station.
The city receives broadcasts from five television networks - Seven Queensland
, WIN
(an affiliate of the Nine Network]], Southern Cross Ten
, ABC
TV and SBS One. All networks also provide additional digital only television stations.
Of the three main commercial networks, Seven Queensland and WIN produce 30-minute local news bulletins each weeknight (both produced from local newsrooms, but broadcast from studios elsewhere in the state - Maroochydore and Toowoomba respectively) with WIN also producing a state-wide late news bulletin for regional Queensland. Southern Cross Ten also provides short local news updates throughout the day.
The only daily local newspaper in the city is the The Daily Mercury.
, United States
since 4 January 1966 Matsuura
, Japan
since 22 July 1989 Honiara
, Solomon Islands
since 5 July 1995
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia, about 970 kilometres (603 mi) north of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, on the Pioneer River. Mackay is nicknamed the sugar capital of Australia because its region produces more than a third of Australia's cane sugar.
There is controversy about the geographic location of the region, with most people referring to it as a part of either Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
or North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
, though much confusion still lies within the Queensland Government, with government services being provided through both Townsville (North Queensland
North Queensland
North Queensland or the Northern Region is the northern part of the state of Queensland in Australia. Queensland is a massive state, larger than most countries, and the tropical northern part of it has been historically remote and undeveloped, resulting in a distinctive regional character and...
) and Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
(Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
). Generally, the area is known as the Mackay–Whitsunday
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, situated between just south of Bowen and to the north of Mackay, some north of Brisbane. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial...
Region. Equally, there has always been much contention over the pronunciation of the name Mackay. Correspondence received by Mackay City Library in 2007, from descendants of John Mackay, confirms that the correct pronunciation is məˈkaɪ (rhyming with sky), from the Gaelic name "MacAoidh" which is pronounced "i" not "ay".
History
Captain (Royal Navy)
Captain is a senior officer rank of the Royal Navy. It ranks above Commander and below Commodore and has a NATO ranking code of OF-5. The rank is equivalent to a Colonel in the British Army or Royal Marines and to a Group Captain in the Royal Air Force. The rank of Group Captain is based on the...
James Cook
James Cook
Captain James Cook, FRS, RN was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer who ultimately rose to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy...
, who reached the Mackay coast on 1 June 1770 and named several local landmarks, including Cape Palmerston
Cape Palmerston National Park
Cape Palmerston is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 748 km northwest of Brisbane....
, Slade Point
Slade Point, Queensland
Slade Point is a peninsular suburb north of Mackay, Queensland, Australia . Slade Point, a prominent coastal feature was named by Captain James Cook.-External links:*...
and Cape Hillsborough
Cape Hillsborough National Park
Cape Hillsborough is a national park in Queensland, Australia, 837 km northwest of Brisbane. The park is a peninsula of volcanic origin, covered largely by rainforest; the maximum elevation is 267 m...
. It was during this trip that the Endeavour
HM Bark Endeavour
HMS Endeavour, also known as HM Bark Endeavour, was a British Royal Navy research vessel commanded by Lieutenant James Cook on his first voyage of discovery, to Australia and New Zealand from 1769 to 1771....
's botanist, Sir Joseph Banks
Joseph Banks
Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences. He took part in Captain James Cook's first great voyage . Banks is credited with the introduction to the Western world of eucalyptus, acacia, mimosa and the genus named after him,...
, briefly recorded seeing Aboriginals
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. The City of Mackay was later founded on Yuibera traditional lands.
Although several other maritime explorers sailed through the waters off Mackay, it was not until 1860 when moves were made to claim the region’s virgin pastures.
Two young men, John McCrossin and Scottish-born John Mackay
John Mackay (Australian Pioneer)
John Mackay was an explorer, sailor and harbourmaster, best known for founding the city of Mackay in Australia. He was associated with Henry Ling Roth....
, assembled a party of eight, including an Aboriginal named Duke, and left Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale, New South Wales
Armidale is a city in the Northern Tablelands, New South Wales, Australia. Armidale Dumaresq Shire had a population of 19,485 people according to the 2006 census. It is the administrative centre for the Northern Tablelands region...
in January 1860. Two men left the party in Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
while the others reached the top of the range overlooking the Mackay district's Pioneer Valley in May. After descending into the valley and exploring almost to the mouth of the river, which they named the Mackay, the members of the party selected land and began the trip back to civilisation. On the return journey, they all suffered from a fever that claimed the life of Duke.
Mackay returned to the area with 1,200 head of cattle in January 1862 and founded Greenmount station. Although the other members of his first expedition had marked runs, none but Mackay took up their claims. However, Mackay remained in possession of Greenmount for less than two years. Ownership transferred to James Starr in September 1864 and, despite Mackays protests, he never succeeded in regaining control. Greenmount passed through a number of owners’ hands before being bought by A.A. Cook in 1913. Before leaving the district, John Mackay chartered the vessel Preston, which landed stores from him on the riverbank about a kilometre upstream from the present Hospital Bridge. Mackay made a survey of the river and the chart was sent to Rockhampton. The Port of Mackay was then officially declared a port of entry.
In 1918, Mackay was hit by a major Tropical Cyclone causing severe damage and loss of life with hurricane-force winds and a large storm surge. The resulting death toll was further increased by an outbreak of Bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
.
The largest loss of life in an Australian aircraft accident was a B17 aircraft, with 40 of 41 people on board perishing, on 14 June 1943, after departing from Mackay Aerodrome, and crashing in the Bakers Creek area.
On 18 February 1958, Mackay was hit with massive flooding caused by heavy rainfall upstream with 878 mm of rain falling at Finch Hatton in 24 hours. The flood peaked at 9.14 metres (29.99 ft). The water flowed down the valley and flooded Mackay within hours. Residents were rescued off rooftops by boats and taken to emergency accommodation. The flood broke Australian records.
On 15 February 2008, almost exactly 50 years from the last major flood, Mackay was devastated by severe flooding caused by over 600 mm of rain in 6 hours with around 2000 homes affected.
Mackay was battered by Tropical Cyclone Ului, a category three cyclone which crossed the coast at nearby Airlie Beach, around 1:30 am on Sunday 21 March 2010. Over 60000 homes lost power and some phone services also failed during the storm, but no deaths were reported.
Geography
Mackay is situated on the 21st parallel south21st parallel south
The 21st parallel south is a circle of latitude that is 21 degrees south of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Australasia, the Pacific Ocean and South America....
on the banks of the Pioneer River. The Range lies on the western side of the city, with the Athelstane Range to the west. The city is expanding to accommodate for growth with most of the expansion happening in the Beachside, Southern, Central and Pioneer Valley suburbs.
Climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
(CWa) under the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
.
Economy
As of the 2007–08, Mackay contributed $15.4 billion to the Australian economy, or 7.1% of Queensland's GSP. This is largely on the back of its export-oriented industries of sugar and mining.Mackay is famous for its history as one of Australia's largest cane farming regions. However, in recent years, the mining industry has become the mainstay of the local economy. Heavy investment and planning is also going into Mackays growing tourism industry.
Mining
Mackay is widely recognised as the gateway to the Bowen BasinBowen Basin
The Bowen Basin contains the largest coal reserves in Australia. This major coal producing region contains one of the world's largest deposits of bituminous coal. The Basin contains much of the known Permian coal resources in Queensland including virtually all of the known mineable prime coking coal...
coal mining reserves of Central Queensland
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
. It is the single largest coal reserve in Australia, with 34 operational coal mines extracting more than 100 million tonnes annually. This represents about 83 per cent of Queensland’s coal production, among its most important export commodities. While much of this is used in Australia, Japan and China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
are the largest export recipients. Although coal was reported to be discovered late in the 19th century, it was not until 1971 that the first coal from Goonyella
Goonyella Riverside Mine
Goonyella Riverside is a large open cut coking coal mine in Queensland located 30 km North of Moranbah.The area is mainly used for coal mining. The coal is well known for its great coking characteristics....
was produced on a commercial scale.
Over the past 10 years, Mackay has become the location of choice for many mining service companies that supply and consult to the mine operators. This is due to its strategic proximity to the mines, major highways and train lines, and the Hay Point
Hay Point, Queensland
Hay Point is a small town located approximately 40 kilometres south of the city of Mackay, Queensland, Australia. It is made up of two bulk coal terminals, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, owned by Prime Infrastructure Holdings and Brookfield Asset Management , and Hay Point Services Coal Terminal,...
coal terminals. Most of these companies are headquartered in the suburb of Paget, to the city's south. Global companies to have set up facilities in the area include Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar Inc. , also known as "CAT", designs, manufactures, markets and sells machinery and engines and sells financial products and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. Caterpillar is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas...
, MMD Sizers, WorleyParsons
WorleyParsons
WorleyParsons Limited is a large Australian provider of professional services to the energy, resource, and complex process industries.The company has a market capitalisation greater than A$6 billion, and makes up about 0.55% of the S&P/ASX 200 index....
and Letourneau Technologies.
Despite the city's benefits, it is widely recognised that Mackay has come to depend too heavily on the mining industry for economic growth. However, the Mackay Regional Council (in conjunction with the Queensland government and other stakeholders) has made efforts to diversify the economic base of the region, particularly into emerging sectors including eco-tourism, bioenergy and the marine industry. The commercial fishing industry has struggled in the last 15 years due to the implementation of government green zones and rising fuel prices, and the labour force being depleted by higher wages offered in the mining sector.
Sugar
Mackay is widely noted as the "sugar capital" of Australia, producing a sizeable portion of Australia’s domestic supplies and exports.The industry in Mackay has its roots back in the 19th century. Historically, plantations were small and had their own mills to crush the cane during harvest. Over the years as the industry grew and developed, co-operatives were formed to consolidate the harvesting, crushing and distribution of the sugar in selected zones. Throughout the 20th century, the privately owned mills in the Mackay district closed one by one until only four remained – Marian, Racecourse, Farleigh and Pleystowe. Today, Pleystowe is the oldest surviving mill in the district.
Mackay Sugar operates three of these remaining mills, including Racecourse, which became site of the region’s first sugar refinery (which is owned by CSR Limited
CSR Limited
CSR Limited is a major Australian industrial company, producing aluminium and building products. It is publicly traded on the Australian Securities Exchange. In 2009, it has approximately 10,000 employees and during a period of a major cyclical downturn the company made an after-tax profit of...
) in the 1990s. Growers in the region have a total cane production area of approximately 86,000 hectares. The growers are capable (in good seasons) of supplying up to 6.5 million tonnes of cane to the factories for processing. On average, Mackay Sugar produces about 850,000 tonnes of raw sugar and 180,000 tonnes of the by-product molasses annually. Mackay Harbour is also home to one of the largest bulk-sugar loading terminals in the world.
The sugar industry in Mackay has faced steep challenges over the past 10 years, since it is largely dependent on high world sugar prices to remain viable. However, efforts are going into diversifying the use of sugar cane for different purposes. These include a planned energy co-generation plant that could deliver up to 30 per cent of Mackays annual electricity supply. Use of sugar cane in ethanol-based fuel for vehicles also has strong potential.
Tourism
Compared to many of its neighbouring cities and regions in Queensland, Mackays tourism industry is small and still developing. This is despite being close to notable attractions including Eungella National Park, the Great Barrier ReefGreat Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
, and the Whitsunday Islands
Whitsunday Islands
The Whitsunday Islands are a collection of continental islands of various sizes off the central coast of Queensland, Australia, situated between just south of Bowen and to the north of Mackay, some north of Brisbane. The island group is centred on Whitsunday Island, while the group's commercial...
.
Latest figures indicate about 750,000 domestic and international visitors come to the region annually. More telling, however, is that domestic and international visitor night stays have increased to 3.2 million annually, an increase of nearly 1 million since 2000.
Several new hotels have opened in the region since 2000, further indication of a growing industry. These include The Clarion International and Quest Serviced Apartments. Currently under way is the Eastpoint development, a $250 million eco-tourism precinct on the northern bank at the mouth of the Pioneer River, which is expected to draw large numbers of tourists.
A number of other notable facilities have opened in the region over the last decade, providing a wider offering for the tourist market. (Mackays tourism offerings are discussed further below in the section Local attractions.)
Marine
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and Cairns.
Currently the Mackay Marina is the largest base in the district for the maintenance, refit and related services for all marine craft, particularly Super Yachts. The Mackay Whitsunday Super Yacht Cluster, a group of regional companies focusing on providing integrated repair, refit and provisioning for the increasing number of visiting super yachts, was established in 2001 to support and promote the development of this sector.
Retail
Mackay has three main shopping centres. 'Caneland Central is the largest of these, with more than 130 speciality stores. Owned by Lend Lease, the centre is undergoing a $220 million redevelopment that will increase its footprint to more than 66,000 square metres. MyerMyer
Myer is Australia's largest department store chain, retailing a broad range of merchandise including women's, men's and children's clothing, footwear and accessories; cosmetics and fragrance; homewares; electrical; furniture and bedding; toys; books and stationery; food and confectionery; and...
is going to be among the new anchor tenants. This expansion is expected to be completed some time in 2011.
Mount Pleasant-Greenfields is the second major shopping centre in the Mackay region. It hosts department stores, supermarkets and other speciality outlets. Outside the main centre, a number of bulky-good outlets also operate, along with a six-screen Greater Union
Greater Union
Greater Union, Birch Carroll and Coyle, Event Cinemas, Skycity Cinemas and Damodar Village Cinemas together form a chain of cinema multiplexes across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji...
/ Birch Carroll and Coyle cinema complex.
Construction has also begun on a new shopping centre "Northern Beaches Central" it will be 45,000 sq meters and include stores such as McDonalds, Woolworths, Bi-Lo
BI-LO (Australia)
BI-LO is an Australian supermarket chain owned by Wesfarmers . Once a chain of 180 outlets, most BI-LO supermarkets were re-branded as Coles Supermarkets during 2006 and 2007. In October 2008, Coles stated it was looking to create a new chain to replace the remaining BI-LO stores...
.
The Mackay City Heart, located in the older city centre, is also another thriving part of the city. It is the home of many of the region's banks, law, accounting and other professional service firms.
Local attractions
Mackay caters for a growing number of domestic and international visitors. Mackay has two Visitor Information Centres, where bookings and further enquiries about the whole region can be made.The Bluewater Trail
The Bluewater Trail project, managed by the Mackay Regional CouncilMackay Regional Council
The Mackay Region is a Local Government Area located in North Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas with histories extending back as far as 1869....
, will complete more than 20 kilometres of dedicated pedestrian paths and bikeways. Nearing completion, the track will link several new attractions and tourism infrastructure pieces around the city including the Bluewater Lagoon, the Bluewater Quay and the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. It also incorporates the Sandfly Creek walkway through East Mackay, and the Catherine Freeman Walk which connects West Mackay to the city under the Ron Camm Bridge.
Located in the south of Mackay, the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens are the start of the Bluewater Trail. The gardens opened and replaced Queen's Park as Mackays botanic gardens in 2003 containing an array of rare plants native to the Mackay area and Central Queensland. Before 2003, the area was commonly called The Lagoons, and is centred on the shores of a billabong that years ago formed part of the Pioneer River further to the north.
Heading east past the Mackay Base Hospital
Mackay Base Hospital
The Mackay Base Hospital is the major hospital for the Central Queensland Region situated in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. It is located around 4 km from Mackay city centre....
and along the Catherine Freeman Walk, the Bluewater Lagoon emerges. Comprising three tiered lagoons, the lagoon is a free family-friendly leisure facility overlooking the Pioneer River in the heart of Mackays city centre. A waterfall connects the two main lagoon areas, which vary in depth up to 1.8 metres. Similar to the well-known Streets Beach at the South Bank Parklands in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the lagoon is a popular summertime attraction for locals and visitors.
Further east along the trail is Bluewater Quay. As part of Queensland’s 150th anniversary celebrations, $12 million has been invested into the transformation of River Street, to the immediate east of the Forgan Bridge
Forgan Bridge
The Forgan Bridge is a road bridge under construction over the Pioneer River in Mackay, Queensland, Australia.The construction of the duplication and replacement of the existing Forgan Bridge commenced in May 2008.-History:...
. The street now has various public amenities including access to a new viewing platform, upgraded fishing jetty, stage areas, cafes and space for weekend markets. Being 250 metres long, the quay is built around the historic Leichardt Tree (which falls under the Nauclea
Nauclea
Nauclea is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. The species are evergreen trees or shrubs that are native to the paleotropics. The terminal vegetative buds are usually strongly flattened. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words naus, meaning "ship" and kleio,...
evergreen variety), a common meeting point for new migrants to Mackay who arrived at the old Port district along River Street.
Festival of Arts
The Mackay region is home to the Mackay Festival of Arts held annually throughout July. Now more than 20 years old, it is the largest regional arts festival in Queensland and among the best-established in Australia. The festival features wine and cheese tasting sessions, live jazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and other music, stand-up routines, art exhibitions, dance and other performances.
The City Centre
The City Centre is noted for its art-deco inspired architecture, with many buildings throughout the main streets of the CBD featuring distinctive designs from the early 20th century. The precinct was upgraded in the 1990s through a unique community arts project. The overall theme depicts the environmental beauty of the Mackay region and consists of bronzed plaques, sculptures and terrazzo/mosaic tiles. Of particular interest is a sculptured free-form seat in the shape of a bommie, or bomboraBombora
Bombora is an indigenous Australian term for an area of large sea waves breaking over a shallow area such as a submerged rock shelf, reef, or sand bank that is located some distance from the shoreline and beach surf break....
, and covered in myriad colours depicting the Great Barrier Reef
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world'slargest reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometres over an area of approximately...
through to the rainforests of Eungella National Park. Many boutique stores, restaurants, bars and nightclubs are established throughout the precinct.
Mackay Marina Village
Mackay Marina Village is a coastal precinct located adjacent to the Mackay Harbour. The marina is a favourite haunt for locals who often make a day of swimming at the nearby Harbour Beach, meeting at Mackay Yacht Club or one of the many outdoor eateries, and using the free barbecues at the historic Mulherin Park. The marina itself has nearly 500 berths, along with one of the most advanced boat maintenance and repair facilities on the Queensland coast. It is also home to a sizeable residential village of luxury apartments, in addition to the Clarion Mackay Marina luxury hotel.Gateway to the Pioneer Valley
The scenic Pioneer Valley spreads out to the west of Mackay, with the Pioneer River meandering through it 120 km to the mouth at the port of Mackay. Nearly all of the sugar cane grown in the Mackay region comes from the Pioneer Valley, and it is synonymous with the rich soils and irrigation with which the sugar industry in Mackay has thrived over the past century.Lush canefields line the road east along Eungella Road from Mackay. Historic townships established along the banks of the Pioneer River include Pleystowe, Marian, Mirani
Mirani, Queensland
Mirani is a town in the state of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Mirani had a population of 813.-External links:*...
, Pinnacle, Gargett
Gargett, Queensland
Gargett is a town in east central Queensland, Australia, located from MackayThe railway from Paget reached Gargett in 1902. It was a busy station during the sugar crushing season....
, Finch Hatton and Eungella, at the top of the range. Other townships away from the river include Eton and Farleigh, where tours of working sugar mills and cane farms are available nearby. Many of these townships feature history centres and Queensland country-style pubs.
Perhaps most notable are the natural assets of the Pioneer Valley. These include the walking tracks and swimming holes of Finch Hatton Gorge. The Eungella National Park, located at the very top of the range, is the longest and oldest stretch of subtropical rainforest in Australia, covering more than 51,700 hectares. It is one of the few places where platypus can be seen swimming in the wild, while more than 225 species of bird have been recorded in the surrounding forests.
Islands and beaches
Mackay has 31 beaches within comfortable driving distance. Closest to the city are Illawong, Far and Town beaches. The patrolled Harbour Beach, adjacent to the Mackay Marina, is the most popular, being suitable for swimming. Further north of the city are popular beaches at Bucasia, Dolphin Heads, Blacks Beach, Shoal Point and Eimeo – collectively these areas are known as the Northern Beaches. The Northern Beaches are popular with visitors, but are increasingly being developed as residential areas for Mackays growing population.The islands immediately off Mackay are renowned for their azure blue waters, and are popular with fishermen. St Bees Island in particular is a well- known fishing spot. Brampton Island, to the north-east of the city, is a resort destination, with body therapy, water sports and snorkelling on offer. Flights to Brampton are available from Mackay Airport
Mackay Airport
Mackay Airport located in Mackay, Queensland, Australia is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Mackay, with flights to the cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns...
, as are boats from the marina. Carlisle, Scawfell and Keswick are other notable islands. Each is a national park surrounded by magnificent coral reefs. During the peak season from June to the end of August, whales can be heard and seen around these islands.
River Sessions Festival
Held annually in June, River Sessions is Mackay and Central QueenslandCentral Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast and the area extends west to the Central Highlands at Emerald, north to the Mackay Regional...
’s premier youth and contemporary music festival. The festival features the best Rock, Hip Hop, Alternative, Folk, Pop and Dance music acts from around Australia.
Transport
Two major highways, the A1 (Bruce HighwayBruce Highway
The Bruce Highway is a major highway in Queensland, Australia. Commencing in the state capital, Brisbane, it passes through areas close to the eastern coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The route is a part of the Australian National Highway and also part of Highway 1...
), and highway 70 (Peak Downs Highway
Peak Downs Highway
The Peak Downs Highway links the towns of Mackay and Clermont in the Australian state of Queensland. It represents the main link between Queensland's Whitsunday Coast and the Central West region of the state. The highway runs for a total length of 273 km, before becoming the Gregory Highway ...
), pass through Mackay. The A1 connects the city to Townsville and Cairns in the north, and Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in the south. The Peak Downs Highway
Peak Downs Highway
The Peak Downs Highway links the towns of Mackay and Clermont in the Australian state of Queensland. It represents the main link between Queensland's Whitsunday Coast and the Central West region of the state. The highway runs for a total length of 273 km, before becoming the Gregory Highway ...
connects it to Moranbah
Moranbah, Queensland
Moranbah is a town in Queensland, Australia, located on the Peak Downs Highway between Mackay and Clermont, in the Isaac region. It is a coal mining town and at the 2006 census had a population of 7,133. and was established in 1969. In addition to the permanent population, Moranbah also has a...
, Clermont
Clermont, Queensland
Clermont is an agricultural town in the Isaac Region, Queensland, Australia. It is 274 km south-west of Mackay on the junction of the Gregory and Peak Downs highways...
and Emerald
Emerald, Queensland
Emerald is a town located in the Central Highlands district of Central Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Emerald had a population of 10,999. The town is the business centre for the Central Highlands Regional Council....
in the south-west.
Road projects under construction in the region include the Forgan Bridge duplication, the Hospital Bridge replacement, the Joint Levee Road and the Mackay-Bucasia Road duplication.
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
, meets the western line in the city's south. Trains from Brisbane pass through Mackay and continue through to Townsville and Cairns, including the regular Tilt Train service between Brisbane and Cairns. Minerals from the western line (Moranbah and other coal mining centres) are transported to Hay Point
Hay Point, Queensland
Hay Point is a small town located approximately 40 kilometres south of the city of Mackay, Queensland, Australia. It is made up of two bulk coal terminals, Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, owned by Prime Infrastructure Holdings and Brookfield Asset Management , and Hay Point Services Coal Terminal,...
and Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminals for trans-shipment to other destinations. Mackay Harbour deals mainly with sugar exports and visiting cruise ships.
The city is served by Mackay Airport
Mackay Airport
Mackay Airport located in Mackay, Queensland, Australia is a major Australian regional airport that services the city of Mackay, with flights to the cities of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Townsville and Cairns...
, from which Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, Virgin Australia, Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways
Jetstar Airways is an Australian low-cost airline headquartered in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Qantas, created in response to the threat posed by low-cost airline Virgin Blue...
and Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia
Tiger Airways Australia Pty Ltd, operating as Tiger Airways Australia, is a low cost airline which commenced services in the Australian domestic airline market on 23 November 2007. It is a subsidiary of Tiger Airways Holdings, a Singapore-based company, which is owned partially by Singapore Airlines...
offer flights to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Sydney and Melbourne, as well as to regional destinations such as Geelong, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
and Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
. MacAir Airlines
Macair Airlines
MacAir Airlines Pty Ltd was a regional airline based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. It operated scheduled passenger services throughout Queensland from major regional locations, as well as regular and ad hoc charters for the minerals industry in Queensland...
previously provided a limited service into and out of Mackay for mining companies before it went into receivership in 2009.
Mackay Transit Coaches
Mackay Transit Coaches
Mackay Transit is the principal provider of public transportation at Mackay in Queensland, Australia. It operates bus routes under the new QConnect scheme in regional Queensland.- Service Area :...
operates from North Mackay to South Mackay. The area with the best service coverage is Mackay CBD.
Health and education
Mackay Base HospitalMackay Base Hospital
The Mackay Base Hospital is the major hospital for the Central Queensland Region situated in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. It is located around 4 km from Mackay city centre....
in West Mackay, about 4 km from the city centre, is the main hospital for Central Queensland. The Pioneer Valley Hospital
Pioneer Valley Hospital
Pioneer Valley Hospital is a community hospital located in West Valley City, UT. The hospital offers General Medical and Surgical Care, General Intensive Care, Cardiac Intensive Care, Cardiology Department, Pediatric Medical and Surgical Care, Obstetrics, Orthopedics department, and an Emergency...
and Mater Hospital are in the city's north.
The Queensland Department of Education has 11 primary schools and three high schools in Mackay. The private system encompasses five primary schools, one secondary college, two P-12 colleges, one P-10 college, one 8–10 college and the state's only 11–12 college.
The Mackay campus of Central Queensland University
Central Queensland University
CQUniversity is an Australian public university based in Queensland. Its main campus is in North Rockhampton Queensland. However, it also has campuses in Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone and Mackay, as well as operations throughout Asia-Pacific. For instance, Melior Business School is one of its...
is in the rural suburb of Ooralea, while the local campus of James Cook University
James Cook University
James Cook University is a public university based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The university has two Australian campuses, located in Townsville and Cairns respectively, and an international campus in Singapore. JCU is the second oldest university in Queensland—proclaimed in 1970—and the...
is in South Mackay. The city is also home to a TAFE college, which is in the south of the inner city.
Government
Mackay Regional Council
The Mackay Region is a Local Government Area located in North Queensland, Queensland, Australia. Established in 2008, it was preceded by three previous local government areas with histories extending back as far as 1869....
, a product of the amalgamation of the former City of Mackay
City of Mackay
The City of Mackay was a Local Government Area located in the Central Queensland region of Queensland, Australia, encompassing the regional city of Mackay and the surrounding region. The City was created as a municipal borough in 1869, and prior to amalgamation with the Shire of Pioneer in 1994,...
, formed in 1869, with surrounding shires. The mayor is Col Meng. Tim Mulherin
Tim Mulherin
Timothy Sean "Tim" Mulherin is an Australian politician. Born in Mackay, he was a clerk on the Mackay Electricity Board before becoming involved in politics. From 1994 to 1995 he was a state organiser of the Australian Labor Party. In 1995, he was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as...
is the member for the state seat of Mackay and George Christensen is the federal member for Dawson
Dawson
-People:*Dawson Roger Dawson, author of Secrets of Power NegotiatingFictional characters*Dawson, in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends*Dawson Leery, on the TV show Dawson's Creek...
.
Sport
The Mackay CuttersMackay Cutters
The Mackay Cutters RLFC are a semi-professional rugby league football club founded in 2007 based in Mackay, Queensland. They, along with the Northern Pride, will be one of two expansion teams for the 2008 season of the Queensland Cup. Their home ground will be at the Mackay & District Junior Rugby...
rugby league team played their first season in 2008 in the Queensland Cup
Queensland Cup
The Queensland Cup is the premier rugby league football competition in the State of Queensland, Australia.It is a statewide competition with the majority of teams based in South East Queensland but also including sides based in Cairns, Mackay and Rockhampton.The competition began in 1996 as a...
and will act as a feeder team to the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
(NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
). In soccer, Whitsunday Miners Football Club
Whitsunday Miners FC
Whitsunday Miners Football Club are an Australian association football club based in Mackay, Queensland. They currently play in the Queensland State League and were founded in 2008.-History:...
represents the Mackay region in the Queensland State League
Queensland State League (association football)
The Hyundai Queensland State League, often abbreviated to the QSL, is a men's semi-professional association football league in the Australian state of Queensland...
(QSL) and is a feeder club to the North Queensland Fury
North Queensland Fury FC
North Queensland Fury FC were a professional football club based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia, which competed in the A-League. North Queensland played its home fixtures at Dairy Farmers Stadium. The club was closed on 1 March 2011, due to financial instability.-History:A Townsville bid was...
(A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
). The Mackay Meteorettes (women) and Mackay Meteors (men) represent the region in the Queensland Basketball League (QBL) and are feeder clubs to the Townsville Fire
Townsville Fire
The Townsville Fire are a basketball team competing in the Australian Women's National Basketball League . Since being established for the 2001/2002 WNBL season, the Fire have sustained community support, but on-court success has eluded them....
(WNBL
Women's National Basketball League
The Women's National Basketball League is the pre-eminent women's professional basketball league in Australia. It currently is composed of ten teams. The league was founded in 1981 and is the women's counterpart to the National Basketball League...
) and Townsville Crocodiles
Townsville Crocodiles
The Townsville Crocodiles are a professional Australian basketball team based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in the National Basketball League...
(NBL
National Basketball League (Australasia)
The National Basketball League, also known as the iiNet NBL Championship for sponsorship reasons, is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in Australasia....
) respectively.
Media
Mackay is served by several radio stations including the Hot FMHot FM (Australian radio network)
Hot FM is an Australian radio network, consisting of stations in north and central Queensland and Western Australia.The brand was created by DMG Radio Australia, before they sold their regional stations to Macquarie Regional RadioWorks in 2004.Hot 91.1 is not owned by Southern Cross Austereo; DMG...
& Sea FM
Sea FM (Australian radio network)
Sea FM is a commercial Australian radio network, consisting of stations in Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania and is owned by Southern Cross Austereo. Some Sea FM stations were later sold to meet media ownership requirements...
networks, MY105 FM Hot Country & Legends, 4MK AM, Zinc FM and the ABC's local Tropical North
ABC Tropical North
ABC Tropical North is an ABC Local Radio station based in Mackay and broadcasting to the surrounding region in Queensland. This includes the towns of Proserpine, Sarina, Bowen and the Whitsunday Islands....
station.
The city receives broadcasts from five television networks - Seven Queensland
Seven Queensland
Seven Queensland is an Australian television station, licensed to, and serving the regional areas of Queensland. The station is owned and operated by the Seven Network from studios located in Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast, using the callsign STQ, which stands for Sunshine Television,...
, WIN
RTQ
RTQ is an Australian television station broadcasting in regional Queensland in Australia. The network was owned by Star Television, before being purchased by the WIN Corporation on 5 October 1988.-Network history:...
(an affiliate of the Nine Network]], Southern Cross Ten
TNQ
TNQ is an Australian television station, licensed to, and serving the regional areas of Queensland. The station is owned and operated by Southern Cross Ten.-History:...
, ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
TV and SBS One. All networks also provide additional digital only television stations.
Of the three main commercial networks, Seven Queensland and WIN produce 30-minute local news bulletins each weeknight (both produced from local newsrooms, but broadcast from studios elsewhere in the state - Maroochydore and Toowoomba respectively) with WIN also producing a state-wide late news bulletin for regional Queensland. Southern Cross Ten also provides short local news updates throughout the day.
The only daily local newspaper in the city is the The Daily Mercury.
People from Mackay
- Sandy BrondelloSandy BrondelloSandra Anne Brondello is an Australian women's basketball player who played in Australia and the WNBA before retiring to become a coach, most recently with the San Antonio Silver Stars of the WNBA. The 1.70 m Brondello is one of Australia's all-time best shooting guards...
, Olympic basketballer - Ben BarbaBen BarbaBen Barba was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs of the National Rugby League and is a utility back....
, Rugby league player - Graeme ConnorsGraeme ConnorsGraeme Connors is an Australian country music singer, songwriter and performer, born in Mackay, Queensland. He is best known for the hits A Little Further North and Let The Canefields Burn. Throughout his music career Graeme has released over fourteen albums and to date has received fourteen Golden...
, Country music singer/songwriter - Nick Ffrost, Olympic swimmer
- Cathy FreemanCathy FreemanCatherine Astrid Salome "Cathy" Freeman, OAM is former Australian sprinter, who specialised in the 400 metres event. She became the Olympic champion for the women's 400 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics, at which she lit the Olympic Flame.Freeman was the first ever Aboriginal...
, Olympic sprinter - Drew AnthonyDrew AnthonyDrew Anthony is an Australian performer, director, choreographer and producer. He is currently the associate artistic director for David Atkins Enterprises and was the associate artistic director for the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, in Vancouver.Anthony directed the Sony IFA event in...
, Performing arts director/choreographer - Jodi GordonJodi GordonJodi Lee Gordon is an Australian actress and model.-Early life:Gordon was born in Mackay to Bronwyn and Ray. She has an older brother, Ben. Her father was born in New Zealand and is of Māori descent. From the age of 8, Gordon's family moved to various locations along the coast from Mackay,...
, TV actress and model - Benita JohnsonBenita JohnsonBenita Willis is an Australian distance runner, who is a three-time national champion in the women's 5,000 metres....
Olympic distance runner - Linda MackenzieLinda MackenzieLinda June Mackenzie OAM is an Australian freestyle swimmer. She tends to prefer the longer 200m/400m/800m events and has won the Australian 400m national title five years in a row...
, Olympic swimmer - George T. D. MooreGeorge T. D. MooreGeorge Thomas Donald Moore OBE was an Australian jockey and Thoroughbred horse trainer. He began his career in racing in 1939 in Brisbane where he quickly became one of the top apprentice jockeys and where in 1943 he won the Senior Jockeys' Premiership. He then relocated to Sydney and in 1949 went...
, Jockey and horse trainer - Nicole PrattNicole PrattNicole Pratt is a retired professional female tennis player from Australia.She is the middle sibling of five children of cane farmers and was taught to play by her father, George, who was a top junior player. She attended school in Calen and received a tennis scholarship to the Australian...
, Tennis player - Grant RovelliGrant RovelliGrant Rovelli is an Australian rugby league player. From 2006 to 2010 he played in the National Rugby League for the New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys. He is of Italian descent and has represented Italy's national rugby league team...
, Rugby league player - Josh HoffmanJosh HoffmanJosh Hoffman is an Australian-born professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League.-Playing career:...
, Rugby league player - Daly Cherry-EvansDaly Cherry-EvansDaly Cherry-Evans is a rugby league player for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League . He is a half-back...
, Rugby league player - Brett SeymourBrett SeymourBrett Seymour is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who currently plays for the Hull FC in the English Super League...
, Rugby league player - William Forgan SmithWilliam Forgan SmithWilliam Forgan Smith , generally known as Forgan Smith, was Premier of the Australian state of Queensland from 1932 to 1942. He came to dominate politics in the state during the 1930s, and his populism, firm leadership, defence of states' rights and interest in state development make him something...
, Queensland premier - Grant SullivanGrant SullivanGrant James Sullivan is a former professional Australian cricketer who played for Queensland.-External links:*...
, Cricketer - Geoff HuegillGeoff HuegillGeoffrey Andrew Huegill , nicknamed Skippy and Skip, is an Australian butterfly swimmer...
, Olympic swimmer - Delvene DelaneyDelvene DelaneyDelvene Delaney is an Australian actress and television presenter.The beauty pageant winner found fame on Australian television in the 1970s, initially as a weather presenter on Brisbane television...
, Model, TV presenter and actress - Keith PayneKeith PayneKeith Payne VC, OAM is an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest decoration for gallantry "in the face of the enemy" awarded to members of the British and Commonwealth armed forces, during the Vietnam War...
, Victoria Cross Recipient - Karl Hill, founder of Results Legal
Sister cities
Kailua Kona, HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
since 4 January 1966 Matsuura
Matsuura
Matsuura is a Japanese name, and can refer to:Companies:*Matsuura Machinery, an international heavy machinery manufacturing company in Fukui, Fukui Prefecture, Japan*Matsuura Railway, a railway company in Nagasaki and Saga Prefecture in Japan...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
since 22 July 1989 Honiara
Honiara
Honiara, population 49,107 , 78,190 , is the capital of the Solomon Islands and of Guadalcanal Province, although it is a separately administered town...
, Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
since 5 July 1995
External links
- University of Queensland: Queensland Places: Mackay
- Mackay Region website
- Mackay City Council
- Mackay Port Authority
- 1871 Diary of the Rawson Brothers The Rawson family established the cattle station, 'The Hollow' on the Pioneer River at Mackay in 1866. This diary is held by the State Library of Queensland.