South Mackay, Queensland

South Mackay is a coastal suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2]

South Mackay Mackay, Queensland
Mackay Airport Terminal Building, 2016
South Mackay
Coordinates	21.1652°S 149.1811°E
Population	6,706 (2016 census)[1]
• Density	860/km^2 (2,227/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4740
Area	7.8 km^2 (3.0 sq mi)
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mackay
Federal Division(s)	Dawson
Suburbs around South Mackay: West Mackay Mackay East Mackay West Mackay South Mackay East Mackay Paget Paget Coral Sea

Geography

As its name suggests, the suburb of South Mackay is immediately to the south of the central suburb of Mackay. Adjoining the Coral Sea, South Mackay has flat land just above sea level apart from a small hill (approx 10 metres above sea level) in the south-east of the locality.[3]

The flat nature of the land made it suitable for use as an airport. The Mackay Airport occupies the south-eastern half of the suburb with suburban development in the north and west of the suburb. There are a number of sports fields between the airport and the residential areas, including the Souths Rugby League Club, the Souths Hockey Club, the City Brothers Football Club and Harrup Park Country Club (hosting a number of sports include the Mackay Cricket Association and AFL Mackay).[3]

History

Mackay State High School opened on 5 February 1912 as part of the Mackay Technical College in Alfred Street, Mackay. 76 students presented for entry examinations on the first day.[4][5] In 1959, the high school was relocated to a new campus in Milton Street, South Mackay.[6]

Our Lady of Mt Carmel School was opened on 23 November 1923 by the Sisters of Mercy under the leadership of Sister M Dympna O'Reilly. It was officially opened by Joseph Shiel, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Rockhampton.[7] The Bishop's decision to establish the school in South Mackay was questioned at the time as the school was so distant (2 kilometres (1.2 mi)) from the Mackay township.[8][9] It is unclear when the school adopted the name St Mary's Catholic School but it was in use by 1936.[10]

In July 1927, the Mackay Chamber of Commerce became aware that the Australian Government was thinking of establishing airmail services within Australia "wherever they could be justified".[11] In January 1928, the Mackay Chamber of Commerce first considered creating an aerodrome to prepare for the growth in air traffic, suggesting in March 1928 that the Town Common might be a suitable location.[12][13] In April 1928 the Mackay City Council voted to provide the land if an aerodrome was required.[14] In September 1928, Captain John Henry Arthur Treacy, chief pilot of the Queensland Air Navigation Co. Ltd., flew over Mackay looking for suitable locations and confirmed that the Town Common appeared very suitable and could be converted to an aerodrome at very little cost.[15] In July 1929, Captain Treacy tells Mackay to create an aerodrome as the coastal air service will soon commence at other towns' aerodromes while Mackay will miss out; he again confirmed the suitability of the town commons as a site.[16] In October 1929, the Chamber of Commerce was advised that, if Mackay had an aerodrome, it would be included in the plans for an airmail service to be commenced by the Australian Postmaster General's department that would visit Mackay three or four times a week.[17] In February 1930, the Mackay City Council was advised by the Controller of Civil Aviation that the town commons site would be suitable after the trees and shrubs removed and the surface made firm and even. Based on an estimated cost of these works to be £250, the council voted to proceed with setting aside the land on the town commons for an aerodrome.[18] On Monday 21 April 1930, approximately 2,000 people cheered as the monoplane Star of Townsville under the command of Captain Treacy landed on the new Mackay Aerodrome (the former Town Common). The mayor of Mackay, Alderman Wood, then officially opened the aerodrome.[19] In January 1931, the aerodrome was approved and licensed by the Civil Aviation branch of the Defence Department as being suitable for all types of land aeroplanes, enabling the council to begin charging landing fees.[20]

Education

Mackay State High School is a secondary (7-12) school for boys and girls operated by the Queensland Government at 123 Milton Street. In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 1,062 students with 483 girls and 579 boys with 89 teachers (85 full-time equivalent) and 53 non-teaching staff (37 full-time equivalent).[21]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "South Mackay (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
2. "South Mackay – suburb in Mackay Region (entry 46840)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
3. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
4. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
5. "MACKAY HIGH SCHOOL". Daily Mercury. Queensland, Australia. 3 February 1912. p. 4. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Mackay Technical College (former) (entry 602056)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
7. "SOUTH MACKAY R.C. SCHOOL". Daily Mercury. 57 (805). Queensland, Australia. 26 November 1923. p. 8. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
8. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
9. "Brief History". St Mary's Catholic Primary School (Mackay). Archived from the original on 20 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
10. "SCHOOLS MIDSUMMER VACATION". Daily Mercury. 70 (287). Queensland, Australia. 1 December 1936. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
11. "AERIAL MAIL ROUTES". Daily Mercury. 60 (4584). Queensland, Australia. 7 July 1927. p. 7. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
12. "AERODROME FOR MACKAY". Daily Mercury. 61 (4747). Queensland, Australia. 17 January 1928. p. 7. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
13. "LANDING GROUND". Daily Mercury. 61 (4794). Queensland, Australia. 1 March 1928. p. 8. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
14. "MACKAY CITY COUNCIL". Daily Mercury. 61 (4830). Queensland, Australia. 14 April 1928. p. 5. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "LANDING GROUNDS". Daily Mercury. 61 (4956). Queensland, Australia. 10 September 1928. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "COASTAL AIR SERVICE". Daily Mercury. 63 (175). Queensland, Australia. 26 July 1929. p. 9. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "CHAMBER OF COMMERCE". Daily Mercury. 63 (247). Queensland, Australia. 19 October 1929. p. 12. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "MACKAY CITY COUNCIL". Daily Mercury. 64 (40). Queensland, Australia. 15 February 1930. p. 14. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
19. "RED LETTER DAY IN Mackay's History". The Evening News (2698). Queensland, Australia. 22 April 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
20. "AVIATION FIELD LICENSED". Daily Mercury. 65 (24). Queensland, Australia. 28 January 1931. p. 8. Retrieved 13 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
21. "2016 Annual Report" (PDF). Mackay State High School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2017. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

Further reading

• Sefton, Catherine; Floyd, Gareth, 1940-, (illus.); Mackay State High School (1987), Mackay State High School, 1912-1987, 75th jubilee, Mackay State High School], ISBN 978-0-7316-1219-2CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

• "South Mackay". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.