Marian, Queensland

Marian
Queensland

Pioneer River at the Marian Sugar Mill in the Mackay district, ~1915
Marian
Coordinates 21°8′43″S 148°56′35″E / 21.14528°S 148.94306°E / -21.14528; 148.94306Coordinates: 21°8′43″S 148°56′35″E / 21.14528°S 148.94306°E / -21.14528; 148.94306
Population 3,019 (2011 census)[1]
Postcode(s) 4753
State electorate(s) Mirani
Federal Division(s) Capricornia
Suburbs around Marian:
Devereux Creek Hampden Balnagowan
Mirani Marian Walkerston
Greenmount
Kinchant Dam North Eton Victoria Plains

Marian is a town in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] It had a population of 3,019 in 2011 census.[1]

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5][6]

The Marian Mill Provisional School opened on 15 November 1886. In 1899 it became the Marian State School.[7][8]

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.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Marian (State Suburb)". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Marian (entry 20983)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. ↑ "Marian Mill". Mackay Sugar Limited. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  4. ↑ Premier Postal History. "Post Office List". Premier Postal Auctions. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Melba House". Mackay Regional Council. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  6. ↑ O'Brien, Sheilagh. "The Dame in the tropics: Nellie Melba". Queensland Historical Atlas.
  7. ↑ "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "Agency ID8639, Marian State School". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
  9. ↑ "Marian Mill". Mackay Sugar. Retrieved 21 February 2014.

Further reading

External links

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