HOSTED ACCOMMODATION MARIAN

Marian Mill was first built in 1885, but closed after a few years. The Marian Central Mill Co Ltd erected a new mill in 1894 under the Sugar Guarantee Act, and the first crushing took place in 1895. In 1966 the shareholders of Marian Central Mill Co Ltd voted to sell the assets and liabilities of that company to the cane farmers supplying the mill, who formed the Marian Mill Co-operative Society Limited. On February 1, 1988, Marian Mill, together with Cattle Creek, Farleigh, North Eton and Racecourse mills, amalgamated and purchased Pleystowe Mill to form the Mackay Sugar Co-operative Association Limited. Since then, Marian has been significantly improved to increase its crushing capacity, and its annual throughput of crops in excess of two million tonnes have earned it a ?super mill? status within the Australian sugar industry. Marian crushes crops previously supplied to the North Eton, which closed in 1989, and Cattle Creek Mill, which closed in 1990. A unique feature is a mural on the Engineering shed depicting a cane fire - rarely seen these days as most cane is cut green. Access is restricted but easily visible from the road....

Named for the Clerk (1921 to 1954) of the former Mirani Shire, Edward Lloyd, who was instrumental in preserving and maintaining parkland in the Shire, the park has recently had a major make-over by Mackay Regional Council. In addition to improved parking areas which can cater for all vehicles up to large buses and caravans, the park now boasts a family friendly playground, picnic shelters, barbecues and modern public toilets. There is also a concrete walking/cycling track from Melba House to Marian State School - a distance of approximately one kilometre - which is very popular with fitness seekers and pleasure walkers as it meanders along the Pioneer River bank giving views of the river and birdlife which frequents the area. If you are really lucky, you may see the local platypus sporting about....