Author: admin

Court House, Mackay, May 1963

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

History of the Regional Courthouses: Mackay

Current Courthouse

The courthouse is built in the Georgian revival style, completed in 1939 to the design of government architect A.B. Leven. The courthouse’s construction was part of the employment thrust driven by the Great Depression.

In 2003, the building underwent major reconfiguration and refurbishment to restore it to distinction. A significant extension was added to the courthouse comprising four new courtrooms, judicial chambers, jury facilities, interview rooms, vulnerable witness room, public waiting areas and a lift.

The original courthouse building was upgraded to provide a stately courtroom for supreme court sittings, featuring timber joinery and furniture and additional office facilities. Closed-circuit television was also installed during the project.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 13960

See Full Post >>

Architectural plans of the Post and Telegraph Offices, Mackay, 1888

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Post and Telegraph

To an isolated community such as Mackay, the development of postal and telegraphic communication was very important, and was among the first public utilities established.

An early report describes business at Mackay being “conducted in a hovel in Wood Street, called, by courtesy, the Post Office.” When the mail arrived, it was thrown in a heap in the middle of the room and addressees selected their own mail from the pile. The Postmaster General paid a visit in 1863 and reported the Mackay office as ‘very unsatisfactory’. The first postmaster was probably J.T. Baker who was also clerk of petty sessions.

Pack horse mail services to Nebo and Avon Downs in the hinterland were established in 1865. In 1867 the electric telegraph line from Brisbane was extended from Broadsound to Mackay.

The telephone, invented by A.G. Bell in 1876 came to Brisbane in 1880 and Mackay

See Full Post >>