Mackay Historical Society

30/08/2026

Coming Up This Week ......

The next Mackay Historical Society, Open Monthly Meeting will be held this Saturday, September 5, 2026, from 2pm onwards.

The Meeting will be held at the Mackay Historical Society, Research Centre at 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay.

Those wishing to join or would like to find out more about the Historical Society are welcome to attend this Saturday's meeting.

27/08/2026

Mackay Historical Society A.G.M. NEWS:

Earlier this month on Saturday, August 1, 2026, the Mackay Historical Society conducted its Annual General Meeting at its Research Centre at 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay.

Three major changes were made to the Mackay Historical Society committee.

Mrs. Danielle Jesser, previously the society’s secretary was elected President of the Mackay Historical Society, replacing retiring president Mr. Jack Armstrong who had occupied the position for a period of 10 years during 2016 till 2026.

Danielle, was previously Vice President of MHS during 2022 till 2023, prior to being elected secretary of the society.

Mr. Jack Armstrong, was elected Vice President of the Mackay Historical Society, replacing Mr. Steven Pritchard, who had occupied the position for 9 years during 2016 till 2022 and later during 2023 till 2026.

Miss Margaret Tyreman, was elected Secretary of the Mackay Historical Society, replacing Mrs. Danielle Jesser.

Danielle, was previously Secretary for a period of 3 years during 2023 till 2026.

Mrs. Helen Martin, was re-elected Treasurer and Mr. Steven Pritchard was re-elected Research and Publicity Officer.

The Mackay Historical Society Committee for 2026 – 2027, will consist of:

President ……………………………….. Mrs. Danielle Jesser
Vice President ……………………… Mr. Jack Armstrong
Treasurer ………................................. Mrs. Helen Martin
Secretary ………................................. Miss Margaret Tyreman
Research and Publicity Officer . Mr. Steven Pritchard

23/08/2026

Does your Dad have an interest in local history?

Father's Day is on Sunday, September 6th. A local history book from the Mackay Historical Society might be a great gift to give him on his special day.

The Mackay Historical Society have copies of various local history books, by various authors including 'Against the Odds' by Lyall Ford for $30.00 a copy.

'Against the Odds' along with other books available for sale from the Mackay Historical Society, are cash only - due to no Eftpos Facilities being available.

Other local history books available for sale through the Mackay Historical Society are:

'A Photographic Record of Colonial Queensland', by Lyall Ford - $15.00 a copy

'Biosketches Of the Fallen' - $5.00 a copy

'Cattle Creek Memories', compiled by John Elliott - $10.00 a copy (a collection of photographs of the Cattle Creek Sugar Mill, prior to the mill's closure during 1990).

'In Their Own Hands' by K.W. Manning - $10.00 a copy

'Mackay Meals On Wheels' by Janet Norman $10.00 a copy

'Mackay's Own', by Glen Hall - $40,00 a copy

'Mackay Revisited', by Dr. K.H. Kennedy - $10.00 a copy

'Pine Islet and The Lighthouse', by Janet Norman $5.00 (a children's history book on Pine Islet and the Pine Islet Lighthouse)

'Ossie's Story', by Ossie Muller - $18.00 (a biography on Ossie Muller)

'Poorhouse To Paradise' by Lyall Ford - $15.00 a copy

'Roads To Riches', by Lyall Ford - $40.00 a copy

'Sugar Mills of Mackay' by Glen Hall and MHS - $15.00 a copy

'The Aftermath, A Tour of Mackay, 27 January 1918 ' by Helen Martin - $5.00 a copy

Book prices mentioned above do not include additional postage costs.

Copies can be bought from the Mackay Historical Society, Research Centre at 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay - opposite BB Print Stadium every Thursday from 10am till 2pm.

For enquiries and purchases from outside Mackay and the Surrounding District, please email us at: [email protected].

06/08/2026

Attention, Mackay Historical Society members:

We have been having trouble sending emails to Bigpond emails recently.

If you are a member of the society and have not received the AGM minutes, please contact us.

If you have another email not Bigpond, please let us know.

26/07/2026

Coming Up This Week .........

The Mackay Historical Society will be conducting its Annual General Meeting this Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 2pm onwards at the Mackay Historical Society's Research Centre at 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay - opposite BB Print Stadium.

Following the AGM, the Mackay Historical Society's August Open Monthly Meeting will be conducted immediately afterwards at the same venue.

Those wishing to join or would like to find out more about the Mackay Historical Society are welcome to attend.

12/07/2026

Mackay Historical Society and Museum Inc has received multiple inquiries regarding the status of the Mackay museum.

While we have the word museum in our incorporated name, the society has not operated the council-owned museum for some years.

At this stage we have been advised that a temporary museum is not funded for 2026-27 and that there is no forward budget planning to establish a permanent museum.

Makay Historical Society members are committed to working closely with council if they open a temporary or permanent museum in another location.

We have a licence agreement with council to use part of the former museum in Casey Ave for research work.

We are still available on Thursdays from 10am-2pm to assist people with their research requests and to browse our extensive library of local history books.

Send a message to learn more

09/07/2026

1956 MELBOURNE OLYMPIC GAMES TORCH RELAY, CAIRNS - MELBOURNE, PROSERPINE TO CROYDON STATION SECTOR, TORCH BEARERS, 70TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION:

(Majella Daley, has asked us to post the following on the Mackay Historical Society's page on her behalf. If you know someone who participated in the qualifying trials, a 1956 Olympic Torch Relay Bearer between Proserpine and Croydon Station or you would like to attend, please contact Majella).


''This year, in November 2026, will mark the 70th anniversary of the running of the Olympic Torch down the east coast of Australia to Melbourne to light the cauldron for the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne.

A celebration for the 50th anniversary occurred here in Mackay in 2006. Therefore, a celebration is being planned for this year, around the 12th November most likely the Saturday or Sunday following with light refreshments provided.

I am asking for anyone who either did the trials, ran with the torch, or are related to any of the previously mentioned activities or are interested in attending this 70th year event to please get in touch with me. Due to the fact that most runners would now be over 90 years, this will possibly be the last opportunity to celebrate with them.

Hopefully permission can be granted by Mackay Regional Council (MRC) for the event to be held at MRC grounds as this is where the trials were originally held.

I am also mindful that a lot of our seniors will not have social media/computer access, therefore we will have to rely on people to communicate this to all and sundry via the good old word of mouth once all details are finalised."

Can we all please communicate to as many people as we can. Please contact me on FB as PM or email [email protected] or 0417 162 005 & placing above title in subject line to express your interest in attending.

28/06/2026

Coming Up This Week ......

The next Mackay Historical Society, Open Monthly Meeting will be held this Saturday, July 4, 2026, from 2pm onwards.

The Meeting will be held at the Mackay Historical Society, Research Centre at 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay.

Those wishing to join or would like to find out more about the Historical Society are welcome to attend this Saturday's meeting.

31/05/2026

Coming Up This Week ......

The next Mackay Historical Society, Open Monthly Meeting will be held this Saturday, June 6, 2026 (Queensland Day), from 2pm onwards.

The Meeting will be held at the Mackay Historical Society, Research Centre at 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay.

Those wishing to join or would like to find out more about the Historical Society are welcome to attend this Saturday's meeting.

17/05/2026

Out And About ........

Earlier today (Sunday, May 17, 2026), longtime committee members Danielle and Steven, manned the Mackay Historical Society's stall at the 2026 Mackay Volunteers Expo at the Mackay Showgrounds.

The expo was held earlier today at the Mackay Showgrounds from 9am till Midday.

Our stall once again was very popular with a total of 41 people visiting and asking Danielle and Steven various questions about MHS during the duration of the expo.

Our new fact sheet for this year featuring information about MHS along with flyers for Professor Clive Moore's E-Book 'The River, Mackay in the Nineteenth Century', which is featured on MHS's website were very popular with many of the visitors.

'The River, Mackay in the Nineteenth Century' by Professor Clive Moore can be found by visiting: https://www.mackayhistoricalsociety.com/theriver

If you were unable to visit us in person today at the Expo but would like to find out about how to join MHS and what we do, you are more than welcome to visit us at the MHS Research Centre, 4 Casey Avenue, South Mackay every Thursday from 10am till 2pm.

We are located opposite BB Print Stadium.

Alternatively, you can also join the Mackay Historical Society by visiting our website's membership page: https://www.mackayhistoricalsociety.com/membership