Mackay Outer Harbour opening 82 years ago: History
Burlesque at a Roman Catholic Hall in North Mackay was among the first events to mark the celebration of the harbour’s opening 82 years ago.
Community News
Don't miss out on the headlines from Community News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The official opening of the Mackay Outer Harbour, 82 years ago, on Saturday, August 26, 1939, was an important milestone in the history and development of Mackay.
The harbour’s foundation stone had been laid four years earlier on September 14, 1935, by the Queensland Premier and Mackay MP William Forgan Smith M.L.A.
Special train and bus services were arranged and advertised in the Daily Mercury to ensure all citizens, if they wished, could attend the opening ceremony.
The Daily Mercury reported on August 15, 1939, that arrangements had been made to sell tickets at local businesses before the celebrations.
Full particulars for the Special Railway Services for the Mackay Outer Harbour Official Opening Celebrations were available by August 16, 1939.
One of the earliest events held to celebrate the Mackay Outer Harbour opening was to occur on August 24, 1939, with a Burlesque Harbour Opening Dance held at the Roman Catholic Hall at North Mackay.
As part of the official opening celebrations on August 25, 1939, a spectacular street carnival/street fete was held in Mackay’s Central Business District.
The street fete was to feature: broadcast concerts, community singing, concert items, dancing, fancy dress and masquerade parade and rollerskate races.
The Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade was to operate chocolate wheels at the street fete.
Performances were also to occur at the street fete by the: City Band, Hawaiian Band/Orchestra and Pipe Band.
Radio 4MK was also to conduct a radio broadcast.
A tennis dance at the Parish Hall and all night Hawaiian dance at the Buffalo Hall were also part of the street fete.
As part of the official opening celebrations on August 26, 1939, the Blue Funnel Line Steamer, Sydney Star with Captain T.S. Horn in command, which had left New Farm, Brisbane, on August 24, 1939, was to arrive at the Mackay Outer Harbour and finished berthing at the Mackay Outer Harbour at 9.30am.
The Mackay Outer Harbour was to be officially opened by Mr William Forgan Smith M.L.A. while on board the Funnel Line Steamer.
Other speakers at the official opening ceremony were: Mr C.F. Bagley; Cr Ernest Evans (Pioneer Shire Council); Ald George Moody (Mackay City Council) and Mr J.M. Mulherin.
An official luncheon from 1pm until 4pm, with catering by the Grand Hotel, was held inside the Sugar Shed at the Mackay Outer Harbour.
Several speeches were also to be made at the official luncheon held inside the Sugar Shed.
Those outside of the Sugar Shed were able to listen to the speeches being made through loud speakers.
Radio 4MK and ABC Radio Station 4QG were to broadcast the speeches.
Public inspection of the Sydney Star while in port was scheduled from 1pm to 3pm and later from 7pm to 10pm.
A display of decorated launches was also planned along with sand garden competitions.
Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner catering for those attending the official opening was provided at the St Patrick’s Booth at the Mackay Outer Harbour.
A Harbour Ball, conducted under the auspices of the Mackay Harbour Board, to celebrate the official opening of the Mackay Outer Harbour was held at the Parish Hall on August 26, 1939, with dancing to commence from 8pm onwards.
Single tickets for the Parish Hall dance cost 5/-, extra lady tickets: 3/-, gallery tickets: 1/6 and double tickets: 7/6.
Also on August 26, 1939, at Glenella, the Wheelers staged their biggest dance and euchre party of the year, the Harbour Lights Carnival Dance.
There were cash prizes for the best carnival and fancy costumes.
Entertainment was provided by the Monica Hunter’s Orchestra with Will Winton as Master of Ceremonies.
Each attendee at the dance was to be given a unique souvenir to commemorate the opening of the harbour.
The Railway Ladies’ Social Committee was also to conduct celebrations at the Recreation Hall in Park St on August 26, 1939.
The Daily Mercury reported several people attended the official opening ceremony.
Part of the day-long celebrations also included a Four to Six Cocktail Party attended by 200 on the decorated decks of the Sydney Star and a dinner party at the McGuire’s Hotel with Mrs Forgan Smith as the hostess.
The last function of the harbour celebrations occurred at Jubilee Park on August 28, 1939, where the Premier was escorted to the rotunda by Mackay’s Pipe Band for a Testimonial by Electors.
The Mayor, Ald Moody, as a token of appreciation from the citizens of Mackay and District, handed the Hon. W. Forgan Smith a cheque for £1000 and presented a beautifully inlaid table of Queensland timber inscribed: “Presented to the Hon. W. Forgan Smith, L.L.D., M.L.A., by the citizens of Mackay and District in appreciation of 25 years faithful service as Parliamentary rep., 28/8/39.”
The Premier announced that it was his intentions to set up a Forgan Smith Bursary to financially support local talented students with their secondary education.
The Sydney Star departed the Mackay Outer Harbour on August 27, 1939, for Townsville to the tune of Auld Lang Syne performed by Mackay’s City Band.
The Daily Mercury published a commemorative supplement for the official opening of the Mackay Outer Harbour on August 26, 1939.
A two-page photographic coverage of the official opening celebrations was published in the Daily Mercury on August 29, 1939.
A special souvenir booklet to commemorate the official opening, Mackay Outer Harbour, Official Souvenir, was printed and published by the Mackay Printing and Publishing Company, Pty. Ltd, publishers of the Daily Mercury.
A FOX Movie Tone (Newsreel) cameraman attended the official opening celebrations of the Mackay Outer Harbour.
In retrospect, the opening of the Mackay Outer Harbour could not have happened at a better time as on September 3, 1939, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies (later Sir) announced in an official national broadcast to the Australian public that Great Brittan had declared war upon Germany, and as a result Australia was also at war.
Drunk 27yo knocks out pub punter while trying to ‘help’
A Mackay man had “good intent” when he went outside to help a drunk pubgoer who ended up unconscious with blood pouring from his nose.
‘Danger to the community’: Mum barred from the road until 2040
A Qld mother of three had been slammed for her terrible driving behaviour following a three month crime spree spanning from the Fraser Coast to Mackay, and involving aiming a vehicle at police officers.