East Mackay is a coastal suburb of Mackay in the Mackay Region, Queensland, Australia.[2] In the 2016 census, East Mackay had a population of 3,564 people.[1]
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East Mackay Mackay, Queensland | |||||||||||||||
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![]() ![]() East Mackay | |||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 21.15°S 149.1997°E / -21.15; 149.1997 (East Mackay (centre of suburb)) | ||||||||||||||
Population | 3,564 (2016 census)[1] | ||||||||||||||
• Density | 1,080/km2 (2,800/sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Postcode(s) | 4740 | ||||||||||||||
Area | 3.3 km2 (1.3 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
Location |
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LGA(s) | Mackay Region | ||||||||||||||
State electorate(s) | Mackay | ||||||||||||||
Federal division(s) | Dawson | ||||||||||||||
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As the name suggests, East Mackay is the suburb to the east of the city centre. It is flat low-lying coastal land (less than 10 metres above sea level). It is bounded by the Pioneer River to the north and the Coral Sea to the east.[3] There is a sandy beach along the foreshore to the sea known as Town Beach.
East Mackay has the following sandy beaches:
It is possible to swim at the beaches at high tide, but, as the tide goes out, extensive mudflats are revealed.[5]
The suburb is mostly used for residential purposes except for the northern part of the suburb at the mouth of the Pioneer River, which is a wetland known as the Sandfly Creek Environmental Reserve and managed by the Mackay Regional Council. The wetland serves a number of purposes, acting as a levee against coastal erosion, providing a habitat for shorebirds and other fauna, and providing a walking track for visitors.[6]
Victoria Park State School opened on 1 July 1926. On 27 January 1970, the school was divided to create a separate Victoria Park State Infants School for the early years of schooling, but on 16 December 1994 the infants school was merged back into the main school.[7][8][9] The infants school was at 43-47 Skakespeare Street (the triangular block enclosed by Shakespeare Street, Hague Street and Macrossan Street, 21.1493°S 149.1974°E / -21.1493; 149.1974 (Victoria Park Infants State School (former))).[10][3]
In the 2016 census, East Mackay had a population of 3,564 people.[1]
Victoria Park State School is a government primary (Early Childhood-6) school for boys and girls at 15 Goldsmith Street (21.1477°S 149.1939°E / -21.1477; 149.1939 (Victoria Park State School)).[11][12] In 2016, the school had an enrolment of 612 students with 48 teachers (45 full-time equivalent) and 36 non-teaching staff (23 full-time equivalent).[13] In 2018, the school had an enrolment of 643 students with 51 teachers (47 full-time equivalent) and 43 non-teaching staff (27 full-time equivalent).[14] It includes a special education program.[11]
Mackay Positive Learning Centre is a specific-purpose primary and secondary (6-12) school at Shakespeare Street (21.1486°S 149.1947°E / -21.1486; 149.1947 (Mackay Positive Learning Centre)).[11] The role of Positive Learning Centres is to re-engage with school-age children who need intervention to enable them to return to conventional schooling or to transition into vocational training.[15]
The Bluewater Trail which connects a number of popular recreation areas passes through East Mackay roughly following the riverside and coastline.[16]
Queens Park at Goldsmith Street has a number of amenities including an orchid house, a band rotunda, a cricket pitch, picnic tables and playgrounds. A number of areas in the park can be hired for weddings.[17][18]