Mirani - Culture and History

No one knows how Mirani got its name. It may have an Aboriginal origin or it may be, as local folklore suggests, a combination of the names 'Mary' and 'Annie' but there is no real evidence for this fanciful explanation.

The Mirani area was first settled in May 1860 when John Mackay, after whom Mackay is named, led a group of people into the area via Bells Creek and the Pioneer River. On 28 May the group started marking runs after drawing straws for the best lots.

In 1861 Mackay brought cattle and horses overland from Armidale in NSW. The area remained predominantly cattle until 1865 when John Spiller planted the first sugarcane on the northern side of the river. The southern bank followed suit the next year.

On 27 August 1872, 149 acres were reserved and gazetted as the Mirani townsite. In the early days it was known as Hamilton. In 1884 the township was surveyed and in 1885 a railway line, connecting Mirani to Mackay, was completed. The following year a school was established and in 1889 Eungella was proclaimed a goldfield.

Perhaps Mirani's most famous citizen in these early days was David Mitchell who arrived in Mackay in 1881. He was contracted to build the first sugar mill at Marian. Mitchell came with two daughters, Anne and Helen. Helen was to change her name and become known throughout the world as the great opera singer Dame Nellie Melba.

In December 1882 Charles Nesbit Frederick Armstrong married Helen Porter Mitchell. In April 1883 the couple returned to Marian and Armstrong became the mill manager.

Although it was Helen (Nellie) who became world famous it was Charles Armstrong who left his mark on the area. He blazed a trail up into the Great Dividing Range behind the sugar towns.

A nice historical vignette of the town is provided in the 1889 edition of Pugh's Almanack which records: 'MIRINI (sic) - A township at the terminus of the Mackay and Hamilton Railway 23 miles from Mackay and situated on the south bank of the Pioneer River about 200 feet above sea-level. There's one hotel, also a boarding house and a butcher's shop. There are a number of settlers in the neighbourhood and the ground is very rich alluvial suited for the growing of sugar and other tropical produce. Scenery is beautiful and Mirani [they got it right this time] is a favourite resort of pleasure seekers from Mackay. There is a Post Office at the Hollow (the residence of Mr Rawson) a quarter of a mile from the township and another at Hamilton, a cattle station owned by Dalrymple and Murray across the river two miles away.'

What is remarkable about this brief sketch is that, in most details, it is still an accurate description of the town over one hundred years later. It still is surrounded by sugar. It still has only one pub and it is still small.