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West Mackay

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West Mackay is a suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2021 census, West Mackay had a population of 6,536 people.[1]

West Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
West Mackay is located in Queensland
West Mackay
West Mackay
Coordinates21°09′10″S 149°09′45″E / 21.1527°S 149.1625°E / -21.1527; 149.1625 (West Mackay (centre of suburb))
Population6,536 (2021 census)[1]
 • Density1,006/km2 (2,604/sq mi)
Postcode(s)4740
Area6.5 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Time zoneAEST (UTC+10:00)
Location
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Mackay
Federal division(s)Dawson
Suburbs around West Mackay:
Foulden Mount Pleasant North Mackay
Racecourse West Mackay Mackay
Ooralea Paget South Mackay

Geography

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West Mackay is (as the name suggests) west of the Mackay central business district. Having a diamond-like shape, it is bounded by the Pioneer River to the north-west, the Bruce Highway to the north-east, and Paradise Street to the south-east.[3]

The North Coast railway line enters the suburb from the south (Paget), then forms part of the suburb's south-western boundary before it crossses the Pioneer River to Foulden.[3]

The Glenella Connection Road pass through the locality from south to north-west crossing the river on the Edmund Casey Bridge to Foulden. Another major road transport route through the suburb is the Nebo Road.[3]

The land is low lying and flat.[3]

The Mackay Base Hospital is located on Hospital Road beside the Pioneer River. The Mackay Botanic Gardens are located off Lagoon Street and features a natural lagoon.[3]

History

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The (Old) Hospital Bridge was the first bridge over the Pioneer River (and was originally known as the Pioneer Bridge). Construction commenced in 1875.[4] It connected Talty Road in Foulden to Bridge Street in West Mackay (adjacent to the Mackay Base Hospital). It was a low-level bridge and prone to flooding.[citation needed]

The North Coast railway opened to Mackay in 1885. The West Mackay area was served by Mackay West railway station off Hume Street (21°08′46″S 149°09′44″E / 21.1461°S 149.1623°E / -21.1461; 149.1623 (Mackay West railway station (former))).[5][6] In the 1990s, the rail bridge over the Pioneer River needed to be replaced, which presented an opportunity for re-alignment of the railway line to bypass the Mackay CBD. In 1994, the new alignment opened and a number of stations on the closed section of the line, including the Mackay West railway station were no longer required and were dismantled.[7][8]

Mackay Bowls Club opened in 1906, the first bowling club in Mackay.[9]

South Ward State School opened on 11 February 1924. In 1938, it was renamed Mackay West State School. In 1950, a new site in Bridge Street was allocated to the school which was 10 acres 2 roods (4.2 ha).[10][11][12][13][14]

St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School was established by the Sisters of Mercy on 4 February 1935 with 23 students.[10] In 1958, they purchased the Anglican church opposite to establish an infants school.[15]

Mackay West Infants State School separated from Mackay West State School on 31 January 1956. It merged back into Mackay West State School on 1 July 1994.[10][16] It was located at 364 Bridge Road (21°09′06″S 149°09′51″E / 21.1517°S 149.1643°E / -21.1517; 149.1643 (West Mackay Infants State School (former))).[17][3][14]

In April 2009, a new bridge was opened to the west of the Hospital Bridge carrying the newly-constructed Glenella Connection Road over the Pioneer River.[18] On 5 December 2009, the new bridge was named the Edmund Casey Bridge in honour of long-serving local Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Ed Casey, as part of the Q150 celebrations.[19] Local residents campaigned to retain the Old Hospital Bridge for recreational use such as walking, cycling and fishing, but the council insisted the costs of making it safe were too great and that only a short segment connected on the West Mackay side would be preserved as a fishing pier.[20] However, in March 2017, Cyclone Debbie damaged the fishing pier,[21] necessitating a new fishing pier to be built. The new pier will be L-shaped and more resistant to flood damage.[22]

The Sugar Research Institute was built in 1953, but relocated to Brisbane in 2006. The institute buildings were used as commercial officies until 2016 when the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton purchased the site to establish a new secondary school, Catherine McAuley College Mackay.[23] The school opened to its first Year 7 students in 2022 and by 2027 will be offering Years 7-12 secondary schooling.[24]

Demographics

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In the 2011 census, West Mackay had a population of 6,507 people.[25]

In the 2016 census, West Mackay had a population of 6,210 people.[26] West Mackay had the largest Maltese Australian community of any suburb in Queensland, numbering 243 individuals and making up 3.9% of the suburb's population.[27]

In the 2021 census, West Mackay had a population of 6,536 people.[1]

Heritage listings

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West Mackay has a number of heritage-listed places, including:

Education

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Mackay West State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Pinder Street (21°09′09″S 149°09′41″E / 21.1525°S 149.1613°E / -21.1525; 149.1613 (Mackay West State School)).[30][31] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 677 students with 50 teachers (48 full-time equivalent) and 32 non-teaching staff (21 full-time equivalent).[32] It includes a special education program.[30]

St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School is a Catholic primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at Mackenzie Street (21°09′01″S 149°09′37″E / 21.1503°S 149.1603°E / -21.1503; 149.1603 (St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School)).[30][33] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 526 students with 31 teachers (27 full-time equivalent) and 20 non-teaching staff (13 full-time equivalent).[32]

Catherine McAuley College Mackay is a Catholic secondary (Years 7-12) school for boys and girls at 239 Nebo Road (21°09′42″S 149°09′34″E / 21.1618°S 149.1594°E / -21.1618; 149.1594 (Sugar Research Institute)). The school opened to its first 110 Year 7 students in 2022 with 14 teachers (13.51 full-time equivalent) and 11 non-teaching staff (8.68 full-time equivalent). By 2027, the school expects to offer a full secondary program with an expected 1200 students.[24][34][35]

There are no government secondary schools in West Mackay. The nearest government secondary school is Mackay State High School in neighbouring South Mackay to the south-west.[3]

James Cook University has a clinical school at the Mackay Base Hospital (21°08′51″S 149°09′18″E / 21.1475°S 149.1549°E / -21.1475; 149.1549 (James Cook University clinical school)).[36][37]

Facilities

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Mackay Base Hospital is at 475 Bridge Road (21°08′49″S 149°09′18″E / 21.1469°S 149.1549°E / -21.1469; 149.1549 (Mackay Base Hospital)).[37][38]

Mackay Cemetery is a monumental cemetery on Cemetery Road (21°08′41″S 149°09′51″E / 21.1448°S 149.1643°E / -21.1448; 149.1643 (Mackay Cemetery)). It is operated by the Mackay Regional Council.[39][40]

Nebo Road Water Treatment Plant is a potable water treatment plant at 218 Nebo Road (21°09′37″S 149°09′35″E / 21.1603°S 149.1597°E / -21.1603; 149.1597 (Nebo Road Water Treatment Plant)).[41] It is operated by the Mackay Regional Council and is their largest water treatment plant. It draws water from the Dumbleton Weir on the Pioneer River and from groundwater bores and can produce up to 75 megalitres (2.6×10^6 cu ft) per day of drinking water.[42]

Mackay Power Station is a gas-fired power station at 8A Hume Street (21°08′41″S 149°09′32″E / 21.1446°S 149.1589°E / -21.1446; 149.1589 (Mackay Power Station)).[37]

Amenities

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Parkside Plaza is a shopping centre at 245 Bridge Road (corner Paradise Street, 21°09′30″S 149°10′10″E / 21.1582°S 149.16933°E / -21.1582; 149.16933 (Parkside Plaza shopping centre)).[41] It is anchored by a Coles supermarket.[43]

Mackay Botanic Gardens are at 9 Lagoon Street (21°09′30″S 149°09′34″E / 21.1582°S 149.1594°E / -21.1582; 149.1594 (Mackay Botanic Gardens)). It showcases plants of the Central Queensland area. It is operated by the Mackay Regional Council.[44] At the entrance to the Gardens, there is an art gallery, cafe and meeting room.[45][46]

The South Sea Islander Meeting Hut is a community centre at 12 Ram Chandra Place (21°09′48″S 149°09′18″E / 21.1634°S 149.1551°E / -21.1634; 149.1551 (South Sea Islander Meeting Hut)).[47]

There are a number of churches in the suburb:

Mackay Bowls Club is at 28 Nebo Road (21°08′57″S 149°10′18″E / 21.1491°S 149.1718°E / -21.1491; 149.1718 (Mackay Bowls Club)).[54][41]

There are a number of parks in the area:

Attractions

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Mackay Visitor Information Centre is at 316 Nebo Road (21°09′55″S 149°09′15″E / 21.1653°S 149.1543°E / -21.1653; 149.1543 (Mackay Visitor Information Centre)).[50]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "West Mackay (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.  
  2. ^ "West Mackay – suburb in Mackay Region (entry 46847)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  4. ^ "New Pioneer River bridge decades in the making". Daily Mercury. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  6. ^ "City of Mackay". 1974. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Mackay". When there were stations. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Rail Transport". Mackay Historical Society & Museum. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  9. ^ "Home". Mackay Bowling Club Inc. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
  11. ^ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Facilities". Mackay West State School. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  13. ^ "LOCAL AND GENERAL". Daily Mercury. Vol. 84, no. 30. Queensland, Australia. 4 February 1950. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ a b "Facilities". Mackay West State School. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  15. ^ "History". St Francis Xavier Mackay. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  16. ^ "Queensland state school - centre closures" (PDF). Queensland Government. 20 August 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 March 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  17. ^ "City of Mackay" (Map). Queensland Government. 1974. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  18. ^ "New Pioneer River bridge decades in the making". Mackay Daily Mercury. 20 February 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  19. ^ Chapman, Clare (5 December 2009). "Ed Casey bridged Mackay". Mackay Daily Mercury. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  20. ^ Bester, Cait (19 May 2009). "Save the old Hospital Bridge!". Mackay Daily Mercury. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  21. ^ Kippen, Troy (8 June 2018). "Insurer pays out to get a popular fishing spot back". Mackay Daily Mercury. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  22. ^ "New design for fishing pier". Media Statements. Mackay Regional Council. 19 November 2018. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  23. ^ "Site History". Catherine McAuley College Mackay. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  24. ^ a b "Catherine McAuley College Mackay". Catherine McAuley College Mackay. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  25. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "West Mackay". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 January 2016.  
  26. ^ Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "West Mackay (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.  
  27. ^ "2016Census_G_QLD_SSC - Census DataPacks - General Community Profile". Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census 2016. Archived from the original on 29 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Mackay General Cemetery (entry 602766)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  29. ^ "Sugar Research Institute & Residence (entry 602642)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  30. ^ a b c "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Mackay West State School". Mackay West State School. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 2 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  32. ^ a b "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
  33. ^ "St Francis Xavier Mackay". St Francis Xavier Mackay. Archived from the original on 4 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Growth of College Facilities". Catherine McAuley College Mackay. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  35. ^ "2022 Annual School Report" (PDF). Catherine McAuley College Mackay. pp. 2, 4. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  36. ^ "Campus Contact Information". James Cook University. 1 July 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  37. ^ a b c "Landmark Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 18 November 2020. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  38. ^ "Mackay Base Hospital". Mackay Hospital and Health Services. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  39. ^ "Cemetery Areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  40. ^ "Cemeteries". Mackay Regional Council. 24 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  41. ^ a b c "Building areas - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  42. ^ "Nebo Road Water Treatment Plant" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  43. ^ "Parkside Plaza Mackay". Parkside Plaza Mackay. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  44. ^ "About". Mackay Regional Council. 11 June 2008. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Lagoons gallery". Mackay Regional Council. 3 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  46. ^ "Lagoons meeting room". Mackay Regional Council. 24 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  47. ^ "Australian South Sea Islander Precinct". Mackay Regional Council. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  48. ^ "St Charles Anglican Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  49. ^ "St Francis Xavier's Memorial Catholic Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  50. ^ a b "Building points - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 17 November 2020. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  51. ^ "Iona West Uniting Church". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  52. ^ "Mackay Family Church of the Nazarene". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  53. ^ "Mackay Christian Assembly". Churches Australia. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  54. ^ "Home". Mackay Bowling Club Inc. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  55. ^ a b c "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
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  • "West Mackay". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
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