mackay

This two-storey building has dominated the River Street location since its construction in 1883. The Mackay Post Office and Telegraph Office was designed in the 1870s, but the first stage was not constructed until 1883 with the adjoining Telegraph Office constructed in 1884. The construction is only two years after the city’s oldest building: The Australian Joint Stock Bank at 63 Victoria Street, constructed in 1881. Thus, the construction of such prominent buildings, both designed by the Colonial Architect, F.D.G. Stanley, demonstrate the growth and importance of the Mackay region in the late 19th century. The government architect, F.D.G. Stanley, was responsible for the design and construction of Queensland post offices from 1872 – 1881, and George Connolly between 1881-1883 and 1885-1891. The place has a strong association with past and present residents of the Mackay region as the primary center for communication, by mail, telegraph, or telephone since 1874 when the site was a postmaster's residence and office. The new buildings were constructed in stages: the left (east) side of the tower is the original post office opening in 1883. The tower and the telegraph office were constructed in 1884. Originally the lower level was post and telegraph services, kitchen and servants while the upper level was the post and telegraph masters residences. The building meets this criterion as a substantial masonry building with remnant classical detailing typical of Government designed buildings of the period. It is a strong feature in the River Street streetscape and is significant as a landmark building in Mackay. Source: www.mackay.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/211347/...

Little is known of Alexander Shiels' early life in Scotland. In 1830 he married Margaret Sinclair in Linton. Alexander was born in Linton, the sixth child of Alexander Sr. and Margaret. In 1853 Alexander Sr. and Margaret decided to migrate to Australia. The family of ten children minus the eldest son Tom, emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in the sailing vessel "Wacousta". Alex was thirteen years old and we presumed he finished his schooling in Melbourne. He entered the service of the Union Bank of Australia in Melbourne. In 1858 gold was discovered in the Fitzroy River, near Rockhampton which brought masses of diggers to the area. The gold strike was limited, but it opened the rich land of the Fitzroy River basin to farming and grazing. People settled and the embryo town of Rockhampton was founded --- a busy station for trade. Soon after Alex journeyed to Rockhampton, still in its infancy, where he was employed in the Australian Joint Stockowners Bank, which also had a branch in the early settlement of Bowen. By the end of 1859, the ports of Maryborough, Port Curtis, and Rockhampton were successfully established. Port Denison at Bowen became Port of Entry and Clearance about March 1861, though Pool Island was used earlier with supplies discharged onto lighters. On February 5th, 1863 Mackay was declared a Port of Entry and Clearance. On February 14th the first sailing ship "Murray" (Captain Till) arrived after an eight days journey from Rockhampton. Among the passengers were Alex Shiels and his wife. This was an adventurous voyage with the vessel having been forced to return to Keppel Bay twice with a cyclonic gale. In the first three years of 1864, Alexander Shiels bought the land. He set himself up as an auctioneer. In those early days, there were many public services needed for the newly developed township to function with law and order, and Alex Shiels being community minded applied himself to the tasks on hand. The first post office was opened in Mackay in 1863, and as more settlers opened overland routes a public meeting of the more influential residents of Mackay was held to petition the Postmaster General to obtain the postal services so urgently required. Alex Shiels was mentioned as attending the meeting. In 1866 another meeting was held when it was decided that the Government should proclaim Mackay a warehousing port (proposed by A..Shiels) and ask the shipping company A.S.N. to reduce the freight on wool. As a result of the petition to the Government, Mackay was declared a warehousing port on November 5th, 1866. Source: www.mackayhistory.org/research/mayors/002_shiels.html

There had been an enormous loss of sugar in the mills and on the wharves. The association estimated the loss at over 12,000 tons and the damage to the mills and buildings al over £26,000. The details of the loss and damage to the mills were : —Plane Creek. 1500 tons of sugar. £2500 damage: Homebush. 1400 tons of sugar, £1000 damage: Fairleigh. 1500 tons of sugar, £7500 damage; Racecourse, 1000 tons of sugar. £3000 damage ; Palms. 1500 tons of sugar. £5000 damage: Pleystowe. 1500 tons of sugar, £2000 damage: Marian, 1800 tons of sugar, £5000 damage: North Eton, 1000 tons of sugar, £1000 damage: Cattle Creek, 500 tons of sugar. £1000 damage: town wharves. I500 tons of sugar, £900 damage. Mr. Peele personally estimated the loss at slightly less. The report of the appalling disaster and flight of the residents was confirmed. There was ruin over a thirty miles radius of Mackay, he said, and the damage was estimated at £1,500,000. Everything possible was being done by the Police Magistrate and officials to relieve the situation. Yesterday was the first fine day after ten days of continuous rain. Mr. Peele, who resides twenty-two miles from Mackay, in a further interview, stated that the cyclone commenced between eight and nine o'clock on the night of Sunday, the 20th instant, and it increased until it attained its maximum force at daylight on Monday. The wind roared like a furnace, and the rain swept across like steam. The barometer dropped to the lowest level known. The hurricane's velocity was easily 100 miles per hour. Buildings commenced to go about half-past two o'clock on Monday morning, and at daylight, the long series of men's barracks was stripped instantly. Source: Morning Bulletin 31 Jan 1918 trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/53836149#