John Oxley Library staff members visited Mackay and the surrounding area over the past week.  This was the second White Gloves Tour of a series of planned tours of regional Queensland, as part of John Oxley Library’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

As with the first tour, to Townsville and Charters Towers, a range of collection treasures was toured.  Presentations were held at the Mackay City Library, Sarina Library, Mirani Library and the Gordon White Library, with participants having the opportunity to closely view the historical items on display.

Participants viewing material at Mackay City Library

One of the most significant original items being toured was a letter from the Queensland Governor, Sir George Bowen, written in July 1863 to the Surveyor-General A.C. Gregory, instructing him that the name of the town that has developed on the Pioneer River was to be called Mackay.  This important document could arguably be called Mackay’s birth certificate.

There was great media coverage with five separate interviews given to the various local media outlets.

Over the coming days, we will give details of each of the tour events as well as the donation of a significant item for our collection by the Mackay Museum.

John Oxley Library treasures on display at Gordon White Library, Mackay

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