Mirani, Queensland

Mirani Queensland
Mirani railway station, 2004
Mirani
Coordinates	21°09′36″S148°52′07″E / 21.16°S 148.8686°E / -21.16; 148.8686 (Mirani (town centre))
Population	1,806 (2021 census) [1]
• Density	34.80/km2 (90.13/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4754
Elevation	120 m (394 ft)
Area	51.9 km2 (20.0 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	37.1 km (23 mi) W of Mackay CBD 369 km (229 mi) NW of Townsville 978 km (608 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Mackay Region
State electorate(s)	Mirani
Federal division(s)	Capricornia
Localities around Mirani: Mount Martin Devereux Creek Devereux Creek Benholme Mirani Marian Septimus Mia Mia Kinchant Dam

Mirani ( /mɪˈrɑːni/ ) is a rural town and locality in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia. ^{[2] [3]} In the 2021 census, the locality of Mirani had a population of 1,806 people. ^[1]

Geography

The locality of Mirani is predominantly flat land used for sugar cane farming. It is bounded to the south by Lake Kinchant, the impoudment created by the Kinchant Dam. The Pioneer River passes through the locality from west to north and forms part of the northern boundary. The Mackay–Eungella Road passes from east to north-west through the locality. There are a network of private tramways through Mirani to transport the sugar cane to the Mackay Sugar mills. ^[4]

The town of Mirani is situated centrally within the locality on the eastern bank of the Pioneer River with Mackay-Eungella Road passing through it. ^[4]

History

Mirani railway bridge over the Pioneer River, circa 1910

Yuwibara (also known as Yuibera, Yuri, Juipera, Yuwiburra) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Yuwibara country. It is closely related to the Biri languages/dialects. The Yuwibara language region includes the landscape within the local government boundaries of the Mackay Region. ^[5]

The Pioneer Valley railway line coming west from Mackay to Mirani (then known as Hamilton) was built in 1885. Later the name was changed to Mirani to avoid confusion with Hamilton in Brisbane. ^[6] The line had the following stations servicing the locality (from west to east):

• Yeolands railway station ( 21°09′20″S148°49′47″E / 21.1555°S 148.8298°E / -21.1555; 148.8298 (Yeolands railway station) ) ^[7]
• Mirani West railway station ( 21°09′28″S148°51′07″E / 21.1577°S 148.8519°E / -21.1577; 148.8519 (Mirani West railway station) ) ^[7]
• Mirani railway station ( 21°09′33″S148°51′51″E / 21.1591°S 148.8643°E / -21.1591; 148.8643 (Mirani railway station) ) ^[7]
• Nanyima railway station ( 21°09′39″S148°52′41″E / 21.1607°S 148.8781°E / -21.1607; 148.8781 (Nanyima railway station) ) ^[7]
• Otterburn railway station ( 21°09′29″S148°53′55″E / 21.1580°S 148.8987°E / -21.1580; 148.8987 (Otterburn railway station) ) ^[7]

Between 1886 and 1896 land was made available for selection to be agricultural farms on the resumed portions of the Hamilton and Hopetown pastoral runs. ^{[8] [9]}

The receiving office called Hamilton had provided limited postal services to the community, and in 1885 the name Hamilton was changed to Hopeton. ^{[10] [11]} Mirani Post Office replaced the Receiving office in April 1890. ^[12]

Mirani Provisional School opened on 18 January 1892, becoming Mirani State School on 11 March 1897. In 1961, the school added a secondary department, which operated until a separate secondary school was opened in 1967. The school was located at Augusta Street on the site of the current secondary school. ^{[13] [4]} On 22 June 1968, the school relocated to its present site in Maud Street with new buildings. ^{[14] [15] [16] [17]}

On Sunday 10 December 1899, Bishop Joseph Higgins, accompanied by 500 other people, travelled by special train to Mirani, where Higgins laid the foundation stone for a new Catholic church in Mirani. ^{[18] [19]} The new convent was opened on Sunday 6 April 1924. ^[20] A new church opened on Sunday 5 June 1927. ^[21]

Mirani Shire Council, Queensland, Australia. October 1935

On Sunday 15 March 1908, Reverend T. Hely-Wilson laid the foundation stone for an Anglican church. ^{[22] [23]} The church opened on Sunday 20 September 1908, when it was dedicated to the Good Shepherd. ^{[24] [25]} In August 1951, Bishop Wilfred Belcher opened a new Good Shepherd Anglican Church. ^[26]

On Sunday 12 July 1908, a Presbyterian church opened in Mirani. ^[27] The church was re-opened on 4 August 1918. ^[28]

On 4 September 1913, the Shire of Mirani was established, split from the Shire of Pioneer under the Local Authorities Act 1902. Mirani was the administrative centre of the shire.

Mirani West Railway Station after the 1918 Mackay cyclone which struck 20–21 January 1918

The 1918 Mackay cyclone struck the city of Mackay, Queensland, Australia on 20–21 January 1918. ^[29] It remains one of the most destructive cyclones to strike a populated centre in Australia.

Mirani State High School opened on 23 January 1967. ^{[14] [15] [30] [31]}

At the 2006 census, the town of Mirani had a population of 813. ^[32]

On 15 March 2008, under the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 passed by the Parliament of Queensland on 10 August 2007, the Shire of Mirani merged with the City of Mackay and Shire of Sarina to form the Mackay Region.

Demographics

In the 2016 census, the locality of Mirani had a population of 1,541 people. ^[33]

In the 2021 census, the locality of Mirani had a population of 1,806 people. ^[1]

Heritage listings

Mirani has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

• Victoria Street ( 21°09′36″S148°51′51″E / 21.1601°S 148.8641°E / -21.1601; 148.8641 (Lt Thomas Armstrong Memorial) ): Lt Thomas Armstrong Memorial ^[34]
• Victoria Street: Mirani railway station ^[35]

Education

Mirani State School is a government primary (Prep–6) school for boys and girls at 12 Maud Street ( 21°09′41″S148°51′43″E / 21.1614°S 148.8619°E / -21.1614; 148.8619 (Mirani State School) ). ^{[36] [37]} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 343 students with 20 teachers (19 full-time equivalent) and 19 non-teaching staff (10 full-time equivalent). ^[38]

Mirani State High School is a government secondary (7–12) school for boys and girls at Augusta Street ( 21°09′27″S148°51′44″E / 21.1576°S 148.8623°E / -21.1576; 148.8623 (Mirani State High School) ). ^{[36] [39]} In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 842 students with 70 teachers (68 full-time equivalent) and 35 non-teaching staff (26 full-time equivalent). ^[38] It includes a special education program. ^[36]

Amenities

The Mackay Regional Council operates a library at 16 Victoria Street. ^[40]

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (28 June 2022). "Mirani (SAL)". 2021 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
2. "Mirani – town in Mackay Region (entry 22253)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
3. "Mirani – locality in Mackay Region (entry 46808)". Queensland Place Names. Queensland Government . Retrieved 20 July 2021.
4. "Queensland Globe". State of Queensland . Retrieved 31 December 2021.
5. This Wikipedia article incorporates CC-BY-4.0 licensed text from: "Yuwibara". Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map. State Library of Queensland . Retrieved 23 January 2020.
6. "History of the Mackay Railway". www.mackayhistory.org. Archived from the original on 11 August 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
7. "Railway stations and sidings - Queensland". Queensland Open Data. Queensland Government. 2 October 2020. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
8. "The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier . Vol. XLI, no. 8, 868. Queensland, Australia. 17 June 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 5 February 2023– via National Library of Australia.
9. "SANDY CREEK RAILWAY". Mackay Mercury . Vol. 70, no. 52. Queensland, Australia. 31 October 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2023– via National Library of Australia.
10. Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
11. "Correspondence". The Week . Vol. XIX, no. 491. Queensland, Australia. 23 May 1885. p. 7. Retrieved 5 February 2023– via National Library of Australia.
12. "Monthly Postal Guide". The Telegraph . No. 5, 458. Queensland, Australia. 11 April 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2023– via National Library of Australia.
13. "8655-I-South Mirani D" (Map). Queensland Government. 1962. Archived from the original on 31 December 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
14. "Opening and closing dates of Queensland Schools". Queensland Government . Retrieved 1 January 2016.
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. "Agency ID 5487, Mirani State School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 2 January 2016.
17. "Our school". Mirani State School. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
18. "Queensland". The Brisbane Courier . Vol. LVI, no. 13, 079. Queensland, Australia. 12 December 1899. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
19. "Telegraphic News". The North Queensland Register . Vol. X, no. 53. Queensland, Australia. 11 December 1899. p. 51. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
20. "Church services". Daily Mercury . Vol. 58, no. 908. Queensland, Australia. 28 March 1924. p. 7. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
21. "Church services". Daily Mercury . Vol. 60, no. 4555. Queensland, Australia. 3 June 1927. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
22. "Local General". Daily Mercury . No. 743. Queensland, Australia. 12 March 1908. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
23. "Laying a foundation block at Mirani". Daily Mercury . No. 751. Queensland, Australia. 21 March 1908. p. 4. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
24. "Opening of a church". Daily Mercury . No. 932. Queensland, Australia. 12 September 1908. p. 4. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
25. "Church of England, Mirani". Daily Mercury . No. 939. Queensland, Australia. 21 September 1908. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
26. "Mirani church dedication". Daily Mercury . Vol. 85, no. 203. Queensland, Australia. 25 August 1951. p. 9. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
27. "Mirani Presbyterian Church". Daily Mercury . No. 846. Queensland, Australia. 9 July 1908. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
28. "Church services". Daily Mercury . Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1918. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021– via National Library of Australia.
29. "100 years ago, a cyclone without a name killed 30 people and almost levelled a young city". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
30. "Agency ID 4942, Mirani State High School". Queensland State Archives . Retrieved 2 January 2016.
31. "Our school". Mirani State High School. 2 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
32. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 October 2007). "Mirani (L) (Urban Centre/Locality)". 2006 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
33. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Mirani (SSC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
34. "Lt Thomas Armstrong Memorial (entry 600724)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
35. "Mirani Railway Station Building (entry 600984)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
36. "State and non-state school details". Queensland Government. 9 July 2018. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
37. "Mirani State School". Mirani State School. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
38. "ACARA School Profile 2018". Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority. Archived from the original on 27 August 2020. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
39. "Mirani State High School". Mirani State High School. 2 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
40. "Libraries: Contact/Opening Hours". Mackay Regional Council. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2017.

External links

• "Mirani". Queensland Places. Centre for the Government of Queensland, University of Queensland.
• "Town map of Mirani". Queensland Government. 1975.