Mackay City is part of the traditional lands of the Yuwibara people.

It first grew into a prominent regional centre in the 1870’s and 80’s with a booming sugar industry. Eighty percent of the township was significantly damaged after the Great 1918 Mackay Cyclone and flooding event, which sparked a huge rebuilding effort through the 1920’s. The high concentration of Art Deco buildings in the city centre is a result of this effort.

The face of Mackay city centre was transformed into what we know today as a result of the mining boom from 2002 until 2013, where the majority of Mackay’s tall buildings have risen in the skyline; the Blue Lagoon was built and Canelands Shopping Centre doubled in size.

Outlook

The city centre in 2036 is characterised by higher density urban living where 85% of dwellings are apartments, units and townhouses, A demographic shift with a higher concentration of residents aged over 65+. This is balanced with the continued trend of young working professionals residing in the city centre and the preferred location for new immigrants settling in Mackay region. Growth in the city centre is driven by access to employment, opportunities for apartment living, and improvements in liveability supported by the Waterfront Priority Development Area.
Total Residents
Main Industries of Employment for Residents 2018
Health
13.8%
Hospitality
13.4%
Retail
9.3%
Population by Age play_arrow
Dwelling Types