Marvellous Mackay
Mackay Artspace
Mackay City Library
Library at North Mackay
Central Queensland University lagoon
Tourism Mackay at the City Gates
Lush oval at Mackay State High School
Inside Mackay City Library
Invisible computer building at Mackay State High School
Hard at work in the Mackay City Library
Mackay - A Beautiful Place to Live
Mackay, which is midway along the Queensland coast, boasts 31 broad and beautiful beaches, lush farming areas, and tropical rainforests. Many of the suburbs, which are a mix of original Queenslanders and new housing subdivisions, include beach front areas. Mackay is dotted with many green areas, parks, gardens, and farms.We even have grazing cattle in the heart of Mackay thanks to the agricultural program at Mackay State High School.
Cattle at Mackay State High School
The recent financial chaos had little effect on Mackay which is high on the top ten list of Australian regional growth areas. The economy, based on mining, sugar, cattle and tourism is not only sound, it continues to boom. The construction industry remains in high gear, and the façade of the area is constantly changing. More information can be found here at Mackay City Council
Although Mackay is more than 1000 kilometres from Brisbane, it is far from being a cultural wasteland. The Mackay Entertainment Centre hosts numerous performances by state, intra-state and overseas performers. Regular performances are also provided by Kucom, at its theatre in Shakespeare Street, and by the Mackay Musical Comedy Players.
Mackay Entertainment Centre
New displays are on show every few weeks at the Mackay Art Space. The area includes a restaurant which is a popular meeting place. There is always something new to see in Mackay as buildings can appear quite suddenly. Occasionally there are little upsets; some people consider the twirly bit on the outside of Artspace very like the end result of opening a can of sardines, and then leaving the tin in the rain.
Mackay City Libraries
Mackay is very well served with one mobile library and three stationary libraries. While the living is easy in Mackay, parking at the Mackay City Library can be a problem for patrons due to the newly built conference centre which has eaten up scads of car parks and, unfortunately, caused mass destruction of glorious old palm trees. Library patrons may well eye off the huge green wasteland, otherwise known as a lawn, in front of the Mackay City Council building. Readers are generally quiet people but put a major impediment between a reader and his supply of books and there may be mayhem. There are also excellent libraries at North Mackay and at Walkerston. The mobile library provides a regular service for people who are unable to travel. Librarians at all the libraries are extremely helpful and pleasant people and it has been my pleasure to know them for many years.
Mackay City Library
The Central Queensland University is a relatively new addition to the Mackay scene. It includes an excellent library, conservatorium, and numerous lecture theatres. The university setting is unique, it is, in typical Mackay style, half surrounded by canefields. Unfortunately a new housing development suddenly sprang up on one side of the university which partially wrecks the ambience.
Central Queensland University at Mackay
Mackay State High School is the oldest high school in Mackay but has very new airconditioning, paintwork, and fencing. This school also has an agricultural program and cattle, on their huge grassy tree-ed lots are an interesting sight in the centre of Mackay. The Mackay area has the full panopoly of primary and high schools, both state run and private.
Mackay State High School
Canefields are a common sight right throughout Mackay. New housing estates are edged or even ringed with cane. On the edge of the city is the Racecourse Mill.
Canefields and Racecourse Mill
Travellers may contact Tourism Mackay which is at the City Gates, and there is also an information office in Sydney Street, Mackay. Find the answers to all your questions here.
There are many lovely old buildings to visit in Mackay. The area was settled in 1862, although many places already bore names following the sail-by made by Captain James Cook in 1770. 1865 was a good year, the first sugar cane was planted, the town of Mackay was laid out, and the customs house, which still stands today, was built.
Don't forget to visit the Greenmount Homestead, just past Walkerston. This is an interesting 20 minute drive from Mackay. Greenmount Homestead was the original home owned by Captain John Mackay who established a settlement in the area in 1862.
Another super council Mackay City Council
Whether you are coming here to live, or just visiting, you couldn't chose a more beautiful place. Mackay has great weather with a mean maximum temperature of 26 degrees and a mean minimum of 17 degrees. There are two seasons, the wet (summer months) and the dry (winter months). With Australia’s changing climatic conditions, Mackay’s weather pattern has become somewhat erratic but the region is lucky to receive excellent rainfall and is usually very green and lush. The next gallery is Mackay Parks and Beaches