Making history: New Queen's first visit to Mackay

Public holiday declared so thousands could welcome newly crowned Queen to Mackay

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip travelling through the Sydney Street and Victoria Street intersection in 1954.

IN 1954 Mackay's streets and buildings were festooned with archways, flags and lights set up to brighten the city for the special occasion of the visit to Mackay of the reigning monarchs, her royal majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip.

The visit attracted approximately 30,000 people to the Mackay showgrounds on March 15, 1954, with many more lining the tour route.

To enable as many as possible to attend the event, a public holiday was declared in Mackay and the surrounding district. To allow those outside of Mackay to attend the event, trains were organised to transport interested people to and from Mackay that day.

Prior to the Mackay visit, the royal couple sailed through the Great Barrier Reef, on board The Gothic, before transferring to the HMAS Anzac.

Roylen Cruises sent a message to The Gothic to welcome the royal couple while cruising nearby. The message was "Welcome on your visit to Mackay waters”. A reply to Roylen Cruises read "Thank you very much. Sorry it is so short”.

The royal couple, on the Anzac, arrived at the Mackay Harbour breast wharf at 10.30am to a welcome by the chairman of the Pioneer Shire Council, Herbert Woodyard, his fellow councillors and shire clerk along with the chairman of the Mackay Harbour Board, board members and their wives.

The couple then went for a tour of Mackay Harbour, North Mackay and Cremorne, heading along Harbour Road and Barnes Creek Road before progressing across the Forgan Bridge into Sydney Street. The royal entourage proceeded along Victoria Street, to the Mackay showgrounds. Many royal admirers stood along the route to see the royal couple.

Some 20 cars from Mackay and the surrounding district were used for the 1954 Mackay visit. Cars from the local taxi firm 'Robbies Taxis' were also used for the royal progress which included members of the royal household and Navy personnel. Two cars were flown into Mackay from Cairns for use by Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh.

Eight police motorcycles were used as an escort for the special royal visitors.

By 11am the couple had arrived at the showgrounds, meeting the Premier of Queensland, Vince Gair, and the Mayor of Mackay Jack Binnington and his wife. Entertainment was provided at the showgrounds by Mackay Girl Guides, Mackay Junior Choral Society and West Mackay Convent School students. Brownies, Girl Guides and Rangers from Bowen, Proserpine and Sarina also entertained.

A reported 7000 students attended the Mackay showgrounds event. Space for those attending was provided in the showring, around the ring and in the now recently demolished grandstand. A public address system, 26 speakers and 12 special radios tuned into then Mackay radio station Radio 4QA (now ABC Tropical North) were installed at the showgrounds to allow those to listen in to the proceedings.

Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke Of Edinburgh, Prince Phillip, seated on the royal dais at the Mackay showgrounds in 1954.

A special royal dais was also constructed at the showgrounds for the visit.

Her Royal Highness was presented with a bouquet of Mackay-grown orchids by Daphne Newman, the grand-daughter of Jack Binnington. The orchids had been carefully nurtured by the Queen's Park curator, Mr Bell.

Guest speakers at the function were the Mayor and Queen Elizabeth. Her Royal Highness, in her speech, said:

"I have small doubt that the people of Mackay and district will overcome their future problems with that same energy and determination which was shown by their pioneer forefathers who settled here in the closing years of last century”.

Queen Elizabeth was also reported to have said in conversation: "I have loved every minute of it, but I don't have time to see everything I would like to”.

At 12.05pm, the royal couple left the showgrounds and headed for the Mackay Airport, then at Casey Avenue, where the Mackay Pipe Band performed.

There were 3000-plus people at the farewell to the royal couple, who were leaving for Rockhampton on a TAA Royal Convair.

Radio 4MK, then Mackay's only commercial station, broadcast a special on the TAA Royal Convair later that day, at 9pm, which featured impressions by pilots and hostesses who had been on board with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip on previous flights during the Australian royal tour.

On the way to the airport, the couple passed the Mackay Fire Station at the corner of Alfred and Sydney streets, where the firefighters were paraded in full dress uniform. Mackay Police reported no problems or incidents during the royal tour.

It was the first visit by the couple to Mackay since the crowning of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953.

A 1952 Mackay royal visit had first been announced on September 19, 1951. However, Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI passed away on February 6, 1952, and as a result the 1952 planned royal tour was cancelled.

The 1954 visit had been announced on May 5, 1953.

The Mackay visit in 1954 was part of a regional Queensland tour which included Cairns, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville. The Mackay visit of 2¼ hours was the longest for any regional centre in Queensland.

Since 1954, there have been further royal visits to Mackay; the Queen, Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne on April 16, 1970; a visit by the Duke of Edinburgh on October 1, 1982; Prince Charles visited briefly during July 1966; and Princess Alexandra visited Mackay in September 1959.

This Mackay history feature has been supplied by the Mackay Museum, Mackay's only local history museum. The Museum is located at 4 Casey Ave, South Mackay (opposite the BB Print Football Stadium). The museum is open each Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday between 10am till 2pm. Admission is $3 adult and $2 for children or concession. Visit www.facebook.com/mackaymuseum

Originally published as Making history: New Queen's first visit to Mackay