West Mackay

West Mackay is a suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2]

West Mackay
Mackay, Queensland
West Mackay
Coordinates21°09′10″S 149°09′45″E
Population6,210 (2016 census)[1]
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Mackay
Federal Division(s)Dawson
Suburbs around West Mackay:
Foulden Mount Pleasant North Mackay
Racecourse West Mackay Mackay (suburb)
Ooralea Paget South Mackay

According to the 2016 census, West Mackay includes the largest Maltese Australian community of any suburb in Queensland, numbering 243 individuals and making up 3.9% of the suburb's population.[3]

Geography

West Mackay is (as the name suggests) west of the Mackay central business district. Having a diamond-like shape, it is bounded by the Pioneer River to the north-west, the Bruce Highway to the north-east, Paradise Street to the south-easat and the North Coast railway line to the south-west. The land is low lying and flat. The North Coast railway line and the Glenella Connection Road pass through the locality from south to north-west crossing the river on separate bridges (the road bridge being called the Edmund Casey Bridge) to Foulden. Another major transport routes through the suburb is the Nebo Road.[4]

The Mackay Base Hospital is located on Hospital Road beside the Pioneer River. The Mackay Botanic Gardens are located off Lagoon Street and features a natural lagoon.[4]

History

There was previously a bridge, known as the (Old) Hospital Bridge, which connected Talty Road in Foulden to Bridge Street in West Mackay (adjacent to the Mackay Base Hospital). It was the first bridge over the Pioneer River (and was originally known as the Pioneer Bridge). Construction commenced in 1875. The low bridge was prone to flooding.

In April 2009 its replacement was open to the west of the Hospital Bridge carrying the newly-constructed Glenella Connection Road over the Pioneer River.[5] On 5 December 2009, the new bridge was named the Edmund Casey Bridge in honour of long-serving local Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, Ed Casey, as part of the Q150 celebrations.[6] Local residents campaigned to retain the Old Hospital Bridge for recreational use such as walking, cycling and fishing, but the council insisted the costs of making it safe were too great and that only a short segment connected on the West Mackay side would be preserved as a fishing pier.[7] However, in March 2017, Cyclone Debbie damaged the fishing pier.[8], necessitating a new fishing pier to be built. The new pier will be L-shaped and more resistant to flood damage.[9]

In the 2011 census, West Mackay had a population of 6,507 people.[10]

Heritage listings

West Mackay has a number of heritage-listed places, including:

Education

Mackay West State School opened on 11 February 1924.[13]

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References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "West Mackay (State Suburb)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  2. "West Mackay (entry 46847)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  3. "2016Census_G_QLD_SSC - Census DataPacks - General Community Profile". Australian Bureau of Statistics – Census 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  5. "New Pioneer River bridge decades in the making". Mackay Daily Mercury. 20 February 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  6. Chapman, Clare (5 December 2009). "Ed Casey bridged Mackay". Mackay Daily Mercury. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  7. Bester, Cait (19 May 2009). "Save the old Hospital Bridge!". Mackay Daily Mercury. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  8. Kippen, Troy (8 June 2018). "Insurer pays out to get a popular fishing spot back". Mackay Daily Mercury. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  9. "New design for fishing pier". Media Statements. Mackay Regional Council. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "West Mackay". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 4 January 2016.
  11. "Mackay General Cemetery (entry 602766)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  12. "Sugar Research Institute & Residence (entry 602642)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
  13. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
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