Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

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

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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

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Architectural drawing of the Court House, Mackay, 17 November 1884

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

History of the Regional Courthouses: Mackay

The single story building contained rooms for the Judge, Police Magistrate, Barristers, Clerk of Petty Sessions, and Jury. It opened on 27 May 1886 and the first sitting of the Supreme Court was held on 15 June 1886. This building became a police station when a new Courthouse was constructed in 1938. Both bildings underwent refurbishments in 1990-1. The 1938 building is still in use, and the old 1886 building is being used mainly for storage.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 20895

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Mackay West School Additions under construction, 1947 Facing North

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Mackay West School

In view of the overcrowded condition of the State school at Mackay West, a new school building, with an overall measurement of 82 feet by 23 feet. has just been completed by the Public Works Department. The building embraces three rooms, one measureing 24ft. 6in by 23ft. and two rooms of 21 by 23 ft. each. The building is surrounded by a veranda, at the end of which is a storeroom for sporting material. The building is complete with the exception of the dual desks and hat pegs. The school committe under the chairmanship of Mr. W. F. Thorning, is making arrangements to place suitable pictures in each of the rooms. The head teacher (Mr. L. W. Callow) stated yesterday that the school has an enrolment of 370 pupils.

From the Daily Mercury, Saturday 1 November 1947.

Queensland State Archives Image ID 26482

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Holmes Bros., Mackay. c.1940

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

HOLMES BROS. WINTER SALE.

In accordance with their policy of giving to the shopping public seasonable goods at the height of the season and at lowest prices possible, Holmes Bros. make a special announcement in a full page advertisement which appears on Page 9. This sale of winter goods will commence at 9 o’clock on Monday morning.

As a result of better buying facilities made possible by the large quantaties needed for the Bundaberg and Mackay stores, goods have been bought at prices never before thought possible, and these advantages are now being passed on to the shopping public.

A close perusal of Holmes Bros. full page advertisment will convince readers of this statement. Many items are selling at prices which represent approximately half to-day’s retail value. The opening hour’s bargains include remnants of dress goods, at one-third usual price.

Blankets will be needed very soon,

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Eungella Range, Mackay, c 1931

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

EUNGELLA RANGE.

During the recent holiday season a large number of people took the opportunity to visit Eungella Range and were loud in their praises of the climate and the magnificent scenery which exits on the top of the range, also the beautiful panoramic view to be obtained from any one of the several lookouts in the vicinity. Weekends also are utilised to visit this charming spot, which appears to become increasingly popular. Last Sunday over 70 motor cars passed through Mirani, and many of them found their way to the Range. The picturesquenss of Eungella is, however, fast disappearing in parts, due to the manner in which visitors are allowed to interfere with the ferns, staghorns, &c., with the result that by the time the tourist traffic of Mackay has become developed the natural beauties of Eungella will have been spoiled. As the Main Roads

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The incredible moving memorial!

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Sir William Glasgow memorial, at the corner of Ann and Roma Streets, taken in 9 March 1967.

Charles Bean described Sir William Glasgow as ‘the most forcible of the three strong brigadiers of the 4th Division. With keen blue eyes looking from under puckered humorous brows as shaggy as a deer-hound’s; with the bushman’s difficulty of verbal expression but sure sense of character and situations; with a fiery temper, but cool understanding and a firm control of men; with an entire absence of vanity, but translucent honesty and a standard of rectitude which gave confidence both to superiors and subordinates, he could – by a frown, a shrewd shake of the head, or a twinkle in [the eye]… awaken in others more energy than would have been evoked by any amount of exhortation.’

Sir William died in Brisbane in 1955 and was given a State funeral.

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