Marian, Queensland

Marian is a rural town and locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.^[2][3] In the 2021 census, the locality of Marian had a population of 4,224 people.^[1]

Marian Queensland
Pioneer River at the Marian Sugar Mill in the Mackay district, circa 1915
Marian
Coordinates	21.1452°S 148.9433°E / -21.1452; 148.9433 (Marian (town centre))
Population	4,224 (2021 census)[1]
• Density	50.95/km2 (131.97/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4753
Area	82.9 km2 (32.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	9.1 km (6 mi) E of Mirani 28.2 km (18 mi) W of Mackay CBD 988 km (614 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Marian: Devereux Creek Hampden Balnagowan Mirani Marian Pleystowe 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]

The first Catholic church was officially opened in 1901 by Bishop Joseph Higgins. It was a "small plain wooden structure". Father Pierre-Marie Bucas was the priest of the Mackay district at that time.^[5]

Marian Presbyterian Church opened in 1902.^[6]

Marian Mill Post Office opened by 1 January 1909 (a receiving office had been open from 1886) and was renamed Marian in 1910.^[7]

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.^[8][9]

The Marian Mill Provisional School opened on 15 November 1886. In 1899 it became the Marian State School.^[10][11][12]

Front elevation of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 1926

The Sisters of Mercy established a convent in 1921 with a view to establishing a school.^[5] The Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School was officially opened on Sunday 6 April 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shiel.^[13][14] It closed on 31 December 1987.^[15]

On Whitsunday 5 June 1927, Bishop Shiel officially opened and blessed the new Holy Rosary Catholic Church. It was an imposing Romanesque structure.^[16] The old church was relocated to lower level on the site, between the new church and the convent.^{[5][17][18][19][20]}

Demographics

In the 2011 census, the locality of Marian had a population of 3,019 people.^[21]

In the 2016 census, the locality of Marian had a population of 3,903 people.^[22]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Marian had a population of 4,224 people.^[1]

Economy

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.^[23]

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.^{[citation needed]}

Education

Marian State School is a government primary (Prep-6) school for boys and girls at 137 Anzac Avenue (21.1454°S 148.9585°E / -21.1454; 148.9585 (Marian State School)).^[24][25] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 564 students with 42 teachers (38 full-time equivalent) and 34 non-teaching staff (18 full-time equivalent).^[26]

Pioneer Valley Cluster Special Education Program is a primary and secondary (Prep-12) special education program operated from the Marian State School.^[24][27]

There is no secondary school in Marian. The nearest government secondary school is Mirani State High School in neighbouring Mirani to the west.^[28]

Amenities

The Mackay Regional Council operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule at the Mackay-Eungella Road near the school.^[29][30]

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.

Holy Rosary Catholic Church is at 284 Anzac Avenue (21.1457°S 148.9498°E / -21.1457; 148.9498 (Holy Rosary Catholic Church)).^[31]

There are a number of parks in the area:

• Anzac Park (21.1450°S 148.9440°E / -21.1450; 148.9440 (Anzac Park))^[32]
• Lloyd Park (21.1400°S 148.9618°E / -21.1400; 148.9618 (Lloyd Park))^[32]

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

See also

• List of tramways in Queensland

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Marian (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
2. "Marian – town in Mackay Region (entry 20983)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
3. "Marian – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46930)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
4. "Marian Mill". Mackay Sugar Limited. Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
5. "Wonderful Demonstration of Faith in Marian". The Catholic Advocate. Vol. XV, no. 836. Queensland, Australia. 16 June 1927. p. 27. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
6. Blake, Thom. "Marian Presbyterian Church". Queensland religious places database. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
7. Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
8. "Melba House". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
9. O'Brien, Sheilagh. "The Dame in the tropics: Nellie Melba". Queensland Historical Atlas. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
10. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
11. "Agency ID 8639, Marian State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
12. "Marian State School" (PDF). Marian State School. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
13. "Advertising". Daily Mercury. Vol. 58, no. 914. Queensland, Australia. 4 April 1924. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
14. "DISTRICT NOTES". Daily Mercury. Vol. 58, no. 918. Queensland, Australia. 9 April 1924. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
15. Queensland Family History Society (2010), Queensland schools past and present (Version 1.01 ed.), Queensland Family History Society, ISBN 978-1-921171-26-0
16. "NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH". Daily Mercury. Vol. 60, no. 4555. Queensland, Australia. 3 June 1927. p. 6. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
17. "NEW CATHOLIC CHURCH. MARIAN". Daily Mercury. Vol. 60, no. 4553. Queensland, Australia. 1 June 1927. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
18. "MARIAN CATHOLICS". Daily Mercury. Vol. 60, no. 4557. Queensland, Australia. 6 June 1927. p. 5. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
19. "MARIAN CATHOLIC MISSION". Daily Mercury. Vol. 60, no. 4564. Queensland, Australia. 14 June 1927. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
20. "New Church at Marian". The Catholic Advocate. Vol. XV, no. 837. Queensland, Australia. 23 June 1927. p. 38. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
21. Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Marian (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
22. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Marian (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
23. "Marian Mill". Mackay Sugar. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
24. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
25. "Marian State School". Marian State School. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
26. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
27. "Pioneer Valley Cluster Special Education Program". Queensland Department of Education. Archived from the original on 27 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
28. "Layers: Locality; Schools and school catchments". Queensland Globe. Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
29. "Libraries: Contact/Opening Hours". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
30. "Mobile Library Timetable 2017" (PDF). Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
31. "Marian / Mirani". Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
32. "Land for public recreation - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

Further reading

• Moore, H. A (1980). The Marian story. Marian Mill Co-operative Society. ISBN 978-0-9594907-0-1.
• Vickers, Joan (1985). Marian & District, 100 years. Marian Centenary Celebrations Organising Committee.
• Marian State School Centenary 1886-1986. Marian State School. 1987.
• "The Marian Mill story". Mackay Daily Mercury. 6 April 1982. p. 28 page supplement.

External links

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