A look back at Porters' history in Mackay

PORTERS was started by Charles Porter in 1883. Charles tendered a job out of Brisbane to build Logie’s Hotel, known today as Taylor’s Hotel.

PORTERS was started by Charles Porter in 1883.   

Charles tendered a job out of Brisbane to build Logie's Hotel, known today as Taylor's Hotel.  

When he arrived in Mackay, there was nowhere to buy his hardware and he had to source building supplies from down south and ship them up the Pioneer River.  

So he set up a hardware and timber business, which has evolved from there.  

The business has always been family owned and operated.

Gavan Snr and Paul's brother, Barry, was involved in the store for 40 years until retiring to sit as chairman on the board.

Meanwhile, Mackay's new Town Hall, which was to remain as the centre of the town's administration until 1975, was opened on October 2, 1912.   

The tender of Charles Porter for the construction of the new building had been accepted in 1911, but only after considerable opposition by some aldermen and many ratepayers.   

They thought the money would be better spent on providing better streets and drains.

Nevertheless, there was universal admiration of the new building.  

The Town Hall, in Sydney St, was one of several major building projects finished in Mackay in 1912.   

Originally published as A look back at Porters' history in Mackay