Marian, Queensland

Marian is a town and locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2][3] It had a population of 3903 in 2016 census.

Marian
Queensland
Pioneer River at the Marian Sugar Mill in the Mackay district, ~1915
Marian
Coordinates21°8′43″S 148°56′35″E
Population3,903 (2016 census)[1]
Postcode(s)4753
Location
LGA(s)Mackay Region
State electorate(s)Mirani
Federal Division(s)Capricornia
Localities around Marian:
Devereux Creek Hampden Balnagowan
Mirani Marian Walkerston
Greenmount
Kinchant Dam North Eton Victoria Plains

Geography

The town is located on the south bank of the Pioneer River approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi) west of Mackay. The river forms part of the northern boundary. In the east is Mount Vince which remains vegetated. Surrounding the town is farmland, mostly growing sugar cane, which is serviced by a network of rail lines. These lines lead to the Marian Mill which was constructed in 1885.[4]

History

The town name Marian comes from the name of the (now closed) Marian railway station, which in turn reportedly derived its name from a local property called Mary Ann.[2]

Marian Mill Post Office opened by 1 January 1909 (a receiving office had been open from 1886) and was renamed Marian in 1910.[5]

In December 1882, Helen Porter Mitchell (later Dame Nellie Melba) married Charles Armstrong, the manager of the Marian Sugar Mill. A house was built for them beside the mill. It was not a happy marriage as they separated in December 1883. Their home was later relocated to a riverbank location on Eungella Road in Edward Lloyd Park two kilometres from the centre of Marian and named Melba House. It serves as a museum to Nellie Melba and as the Pioneer Valley Visitor Information Centre.[6][7]

The Marian Mill Provisional School opened on 15 November 1886. In 1899 it became the Marian State School.[8][9]

In the 2011 census Marian had a population of 3,019 people.[10]

Industry

Mackay Sugar operates the Marian sugar mill where over 2 million tonnes of sugar is crushed every year, making it one of the largest sugar mills in Australia.[11]

Marian was one of the many towns across Central Queensland that were affected by the mining boom in Central Queensland. During this time the Nabilla Riverlink Estate was developed in Marian, and now holds a large portion of Marian’s population.

Services

The Mackay Regional Council operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule at the Mackay-Eungella Road near the school.[12][13]

Mackay Regional Council manages 3 parks, multiple walking and bike paths and a cemetery in the Marian Area.

Marian Town Centre is a shopping centre located in Marian. Opened in 2013, the centre has a full line Woolworths, The Reject Shop, Subway and a Porters Mitre 10.

See also

References
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Marian (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  2. "Marian – town (entry 20983)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. "Marian – locality (entry 46930)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  4. "Marian Mill". Mackay Sugar Limited. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  5. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  6. "Melba House". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  7. O'Brien, Sheilagh. "The Dame in the tropics: Nellie Melba". Queensland Historical Atlas.
  8. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  9. "Agency ID 8639, Marian State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  10. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Marian (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  11. "Marian Mill". Mackay Sugar. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  12. "Libraries: Contact/Opening Hours". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  13. "Mobile Library Timetable 2017" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.

Further reading
  • "Marian". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
  • Town map, 1984
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