Current Mackay Pioneer River Traffic Bridges History by Steven Pritchard

Mackay’s current oldest Pioneer River Traffic Bridge is the Ron Camm Bridge which was opened in 1980

A Carnival was held on July 12 1980 to celebrate the new Ron Camm Bridge – which was organized by Combined Service Clubs of Mackay; entertaining the crowd were performances by the Mackay City Band and Mackay Pipe Band. Country Music, Baton Twirling, Square Dancing and the Victorian Varieties also kept attendees entertained. The Ron Camm Bridge was later officially opened July 16 1980 by then Premier of Queensland Johannes Bjelke Petersen. Back in those days the Ron Camm Bridge consisted of one bridge. The duplicate bridge was officially opened by then Member for Dawson De – Anne Kelly on December 18 1998. The Ron Camm Bridge is named after former Member for Whitsunday Ron Camm [1961 - 1980].
Ron Camm died in 1988. Johannes Bjelke Petersen died in 2005

The Edmund Casey Bridge – then known as the Hospital Bridge Redevelopment, was officially opened on April 26 2009. State Government parliamentarians: Member For Mackay Tim Mullherin, Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarrett, Minister for Main Roads Craig Wallace and Mayor of Mackay Colin Meng assisted children to officially open the bridge. A public celebration was also held on April 26 which included displays of: Vintage Cars, Hot Rods, Emergency Service Displays from: Queensland Fire And Rescue, Rural Fire Brigade, State Emergency Service, RACQ CQ Rescue and Mackay Regional Botanical Gardens entertained the attendees. Face Painting was also conducted at the celebration. A ‘Build A Bridge Competition’ was also conducted coinciding with the opening of the bridge. The Hospital Bridge Redevelopment was later renamed ‘The Edmund Casey Bridge during October 2009. The Edmund Casey Bridge replaced the former Pioneer Bridge (a.k.a The Hospital Bridge) which was officially opened on December 11 1937 by then Minister for Lands Percy Pease. A public celebration was also conducted on December 11 1937 which included The Mackay Scottish Pipe Band and a procession of cars which entertained the attendees. The Edmund Casey Bridge was named after former Member for Mackay Edmund Casey [1969 – 1995]. Percy Pease died in 1940. Edmund Casey died in 2006.

Stage 1 of the current Forgan bridge development opened to traffic on April 18 2010. A public celebration to celebrate the new bridge was held on April 11 2010 which included: Entertainment, Market Stalls and Fireworks entertained the attendees. The current Forgan bridge development replaced the former Forgan bridge which was officially by: then Mayor of Mackay George Moody’s wife Eleanor Moody along with the Member for Mackay and premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith (who unveiled the name plate) and his wife Effie Smith (who severed the ribbon), and then wife of Pioneer Shire Council Councilor and Mackay Bridges Board Chairman Frederick Knobel, Martha Knobel (who held the ribbon for Mrs. Moody to open) on March 30 1938. A public celebration was held the night of the official opening of the bridge. Entertaining the attendees were the Mackay City Band, Pipe Band and Caledonian Pipe Band. Singing of The National Anthem ‘God Save The Queen’ finished the Celebration. The Bridge was named after William Forgan Smith’s mother.

Martha Knobel died in 1939, George Moody died in 1950, Frederick Knobel died in 1951, William Forgan Smith died in 1953 and Elanor Moody Died in 1965

Council’s Council departments Jubilee Park Buildings History by Steven Pritchard

Many of Mackay Regional Council’s - Council Department facilities are located within Jubilee Park which fronts: Macalister Street, Gordon Street, Alfred Street and Wellington Street.

The Mackay City Council [Now Mackay Regional Council] Chambers [Pictured] at Jubilee Park fronting Gordon Street boundary of Jubilee Park was officially opened by then Member for Dawson Dr Rex Patterson on October 11 1975. The City Council chambers began operating at Jubilee Park on June 30 1975. The building was renamed The Sir Albert Abbott Administration Building on December 10 1988. Sir Albert was Mayor of Mackay from 1970 – 1988.

The Senior Citizens Centre facing the Macalister Street Boundary of Jubilee Park was officially opened by then Member for Dawson Ray Braithwaite on March 22 1979. The centre’s keys were handed over to the Mackay and District Senior Citizens Association also on March 22 1979. A year later the Mackay City Library was officially opened by then Mayor of Mackay Albert Abbott on June 28 1980. The library opened to public for the first time on March 19 1980. . An Art Exhibition which was loaned by the Queensland Art Gallery was on display at the library on March 19. The Exhibition at the library continued until Easter which was held during April 1980. The library replaced the school of arts Building in Gordon Street which was demolished and replaced with a public carpark.

The Mackay Entertainment Centre, Water Garden and fountain which replaced the former Theatre Royal in Wood Street was officially opened by then Governor of Queensland Sir Walter Campbell on February 5 1988. The Entertainment Centre was a joint bicentennial project by the then Mackay City Council and former Pioneer Shire Council. The Mackay Entertainment Centre box office opened for the first time on December 7 1987. With the first performance in the auditorium on December 18 1987 being Dance North 88’s Sun Hunters.
Extensions at the Senior Citizens Centre were officially opened on March 18 2000 by then Mayor of Mackay Julie Boyd and former Mackay Senior Citizens Club Chairman Ken McKay.

The Artspace Building facing the Gordon Street Boundary of Jubilee Park was unveiled by then Minister for Arts Matt Foley, Then Member for Dawson De- Anne Kelly and then Mayor of Mackay Julie Boyd on December 13 2002. The building opened to the public for the first time on December 14 2002 and was officially opened on February 25 2003 By then Commonwealth Minister for Arts and Sport Rod Kemp and then Commonwealth Minister for Employment, Training and Youth & Minister for The Arts Matt Foley.

The Mackay Entertainment Centre became the Mackay Entertainment & Convention Centre with the official opening of the convention Centre by current Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh and current mayor of Mackay Colin Meng on July 11 2009. Jimmy Barnes performed on the opening night of the new convention centre.
On May 24 1935 The Drill Shed Reserve was named Jubilee Park during Mackay’s Jubilee Celebrations. A Jubilee Tree was planted by Mayor of Mackay George Moody’s wife Elanor Moody

Picture: Steven Pritchard

History of Mackay’s City Cinema – Written by Steven Pritchard

The City Cinema located in Gordon Street Mackay began operating as the Civic Theatre and later became known as the City Cinema.

The Civic Theatre was officially opened during World War II on September 16 1940 by then Member for Mackay and Premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith. The Civic Theatre in 1940 was the only cinema north of Brisbane which was air conditioned. Movies shown on opening day were: My Son, My Son and Cavalcade Of Academy Awards. The Civic Theatre contained only one theatre. The Theatre was taken over by current owners Birch Carroll and Coyle on August 2 1972. Movies on takeover day were: The Heist and RPM. The Civic closed on November 8 1975. The final movie shown was The Sound of Music.

The Civic became the City Cinema in 1975.The Gala Opening was held on December 11 1975. The City Cinema was also officially opened on December 11 by then Member for Whitsunday Ron Camm - following renovations. The Movie shown on the official opening day of the City Cinema was: Jaws. Prior to the Gala and official openings the Booking office for the new theatre was located at then Mackay Department Store ‘David Jones’ which was located on the site of the Current National Australia Bank on the corner of Victoria & Sydney Sts. The Booking office opened for business at David Jones on December 3 1975. The City Cinema at this time still only contained one theatre. The City Cinema closed on August 14 1994. The final movies shown were: When a Man Loves a Woman, The Crow and Reality Bites. The City Cinema reopened for 1994 the September School Holidays, the cinema reopened for these holidays on September 16 1994. Movies shown during September 16 – October 2 were: The Flintstones and True Lies. The cinema then closed again on October 2 1994 .

The City Cinema in Gordon Street became the Current theatre complex in 1994 and was renamed the Mackay 5 Cinema’s. The current theatre complex was officially opened by then Member for Mackay Edmund Casey on December 14 1994. Movie shown on the official opening day of the current theatre complex was: Forest Gump .The theatre was opened to the public on December 15 1994. Opening movies on December 15 were: The Mask, Forest Gump, The Lion King, Miracle On 34th street, The Santa Clause, The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert and Muriel’s Wedding.