A History of the Mackay Tourist Festival: 1959 – 1974
By: Steven Pritchard (October 2026)
An attempt to conduct a local festival, promoting the Mackay Tourism Industry proved so popular in 1959, that it was to become an annual event, held during the 1960's and Early to Mid 1970's.
The first attempt to conduct an annual ‘Mackay Tourist Festival’ occurred in 1959 following the formation of the Mackay Travel League which was believed to have been a member of the Associated Travel Leagues of Australia.
The Mackay Travel League, was formed at a meeting held in Mackay on Monday, September 15, 1958, and was later disbanded on Monday, February 3, 1975.
The aims of the organisation were to promote ‘interest in travel in the Mackay Area’ and to ‘promote fellowship between members of the indusrty’. The initial aim of the Mackay Tourist Festival, ‘was to arouse public interest in the industry’.
Prior to the staging of the inaugural Mackay Tourist Festival, The Daily Mercury reported on November 6, 1958, that ‘Mackay did not have an annual festival’.
The inaugural President of the Mackay Travel League was Mr. W.B. Power and its Secretary was Mrs. Dawn Courtenay.
Prior to the staging of the inaugural Mackay Tourist Festival, a ‘Come to Mackay Carnival’ had been earlier conducted in Mackay during 1947 and 1948 and was sponsored by the ‘Mackay Tourist and Development Association’.
The Inaugural Mackay Tourist Festival
A program of events for the inaugural Mackay Tourist Festival (Friday, April 3, 1959, till Tuesday, April 7, 1959) was published in ‘The Daily Mercury’ on Tuesday, March 31, 1959, following finalization of the major festival items/events programme earlier on Monday, January 12, 1959.
On Friday, April 3rd, the festival opened with a ‘Mannequin Parade’, of women’s fashions, featuring 80 pieces of clothing which was held at at the Pacific Hotel at Eimeo. Other Events of the 1959 Tourist Festival were: a ‘Mardi Gras’ at Bucasia on Saturday, April 4th, ‘Aquacarna’ at Mackay Outer Harbour on Sunday, April 5th, which included the ‘Blessing of the Fleet ceremony’ and the ‘Cabaret Ball’ at the Parish Hall on Monday, April 6th.
The 1959 Mackay Tourist Festival was officially opened by Mr. W.B. Power on April 3, 1959.
As part of the ‘Aquacarna’ at the Mackay Harbour, an ‘Aqua Maid Contest’ was conducted on Sunday, April 5th. Winners of the contest were Miss Margaret Butler – 1st Place, Beris Bowman – 2nd Place and Joyce Rigby – 3rd Place.
The 'Blessing of the Fleet', consisting of approximately 25 vessels were blessed by two representative priests: Vicar, Father R.D. Collins of the ‘Church of England – West Mackay’ and Vicar General of the Rockhampton Diocese, Monsignor D.G. Tiernan of the ‘Roman Catholic Church’.
The final events of the Mackay Tourist Festival took place on Tuesday, April 7th with the Official Opening of the Mackay 1959 Tourist Season at the Mackay Airport by Senator Ian Wood and the Mackay Outer Harbour by Deputy Premier of Queensland, Kenneth Morris M.L.A.
The Bucasia Progress Association, Mackay APEX Club, Mackay Junior Chamber of Commerce, Mackay Travel League and businesses: ‘La Femme’ and ‘Suzanne Shoes’ conducted the inaugural festival events.
Professor Harry Messel in 1960, Mr. Charles Moses in 1961, Sir Raphael Cilento in 1962, Mr. Rush Clark in 1963 and Mr. Roger Nott in 1964 were to officially open future Mackay Tourist Seasons and Mackay Tourist Festivals.
Mackay Tourist Festivals of the 1960’s and 1970’s
Following the inaugural festival, the 2nd annual Mackay Tourist Festival, was to be later conducted in Mackay during Friday, April 1, 1960, till Tuesday, April 5, 1960.
The festival was to be later briefly renamed the ‘Mackay Centenary Tourist Festival’ during 1962 and briefly renamed the ‘‘Pirate King’ Tourist Festival’, featuring the first incarnation of the fictional Mackay Tourist Festival pirate character ‘Captain Mac – Eye’, during 1966.
The annual Mackay Tourist Festival also featured an annual theme, along with Tourism until 1971. These themes were reported to have been: Mackay’s the location for a sunny vacation – in 1964, Pirates – in 1966, Sugar – in 1967, Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes – in 1968, Pioneers and Pirates – in 1969, Pirates and Captain James Cook – in 1970 and Pirates – in 1971.
Continuing Festival Events were to be the: Aquacarna: held during the 1961 and 1962 Festivals, Blessing of The Fleet: held annually during 1960 – 1974, Cabaret Ball: during 1960 till 1962 and Mardi Gras – during 1960 & 1962.
Following the Official Opening of Love’s Jetty by then State Member for Whitsunday Ron Camm M.L.A., at the Mackay Outer Harbour on Tuesday, April 21, 1964, the annual Blessing of the Fleet was to be conducted annually on Love’s Jetty (since demolished).
Love's Jetty at the Mackay Outer Harbour was to be officially opened as part of the 1964 Mackay Tourist Festival.
Left to Right: Roman Catholic Church, Bishop of Rockhampton, Monsignor, Reverend D.G. Tiernan, and Reverend Father B. Cahill, at the blessing of the fleet at the 1962 Mackay Centenary Tourist Festival at the Mackay Outer Harbour. Photograph: The Daily Mercury, April 11, 1962.
Other Mackay Tourist Festival Events held during the 1960’s and 1970’s, were to include the: Aquatic Carnival: 1964 & 1965, Arts Ball: 1963, Festival Art Exhibition: 1964 till 1974, Cabaret: 1963 till 1972, Festival Carnival of Sport: 1963 & 1964, Festival Car Trial: 1973, Festival Speaker Contest: 1970 till 1972, Gala Swimming Night: 1964, Harbour Beach Carnival: 1966 till 1970, 1971 (Pirate Carnival), 1972 & 1973, Outdoor Art Painting Competition: 1967, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973 & 1974, Pioneer Head of The River Race: 1968 till 1970, Pioneer Raft Drift Race: 1972 & 1973 and Raft Race: 1974.
Festival Events were also to be sponsored by: Caltex Petroleum (Festival Art Exhibition: 1970 till 1973), Caravilla/Golden Reef Motels (Outdoor Art Painting Contest: 1972 and 1974 (Caravilla Motel)), Charles Porter and Sons – Homestead Hardware (Outdoor Art Exhibition: 1974), Mackay Returned Sailor's Soldier's Airmen's Imperial League Australia Sub Branch (Arts Ball: 1963), Radio 4MK (Festival Speaker Contest: 1970 till 1972) and Rothmans Cigarettes (Outdoor Art Painting Contest: 1967 and 1968).
A ‘Festival Procession’ featuring floats was to be conducted annually in the Mackay Central Business District area during 1961 till 1974.
Bands that were to participate during the procession’s history included the: Bundaberg Drum Corps, Home Hill Concert Band, Mackay and District Pipe Band, Mackay City Band, Mackay Junior Drum Corp, Mackay State High School Cadet Corps, Mirani Pipe Band, Proserpine Citizen’s Band, Sarina Band and St Patrick’s Christian Brothers College Band - now St Patrick's College.
The Mackay City Council 'City Of Mackay' Float participating in the 1969, Mackay Tourist Festival, Procession. Photograph: Rae Trim Collection, Mackay Historical Society Archives.
Local Associations, Businesses, Clubs and Organizations were also to participate in the annual procession. These participants reportedly included:
Ace Driving School, Ansett – ANA, Beirne Pty Ltd, A.W. Rasmussen Pty. Ltd., British and Continental Motors, Carlisle Motors, Eagers Retail Pty Ltd, G.J. Coles, Great Barrier Reef Islands Promotional Council, Harrups, Jacklin Motors, James Croker and Sons, J. Michelmore & Co. Pty. Ltd., Kay Munro’s School Of Dancing, Lynette Millard Dancing Academy, Mackay Base Hospital, Mackay City Council, Mackay Harbour Board, Mackay Regional Electricity Board, Mackay Road Safety Council, Mackay State High School, Mackay Steam Laundry, Mackay Sugar Research Institute, Mackay Towing Service, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, McAleese and Co., Pioneer Shire Council, Port Curtis Dairy Co-Operative, Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade, Queensland Government Tourism Bureau, Robert McGinn and Company, Roylen Cruises, St Patricks Convent School, The Daily Mercury, Walkers Limited and Woolworths.
Bucasia Progress Association, Eimeo – Bucasia Rural Youth, Gargett QCWA Branch, Mackay Bushwalkers, Mackay Dutch – Australian Social Club, Mackay and District Hack & Pony Club, Mackay Highland Dancing Association, Mackay Surf Life Saving Club, Mackay Water Polo Association, Mirani Rural Youth, Mirani State School – Parents and Citizens Association, Pinnacle Red Cross Sub Branch, Sarina Oddfellows, Sarina Rural Youth and T.S. Pioneer Sea Cadets also participated amongst others in the procession.
Then visiting Officers and Men of the Royal Australian Navy's H.M.A.S. Derwent and H.M.A.S. Stuart, were also to participate in the 1967 Tourist Festival Procession.
A ‘Decorated Bicycle competition’ was also to be conducted as part of the annual festival procession for several years.
A Vice – Regal Ball, held at the Parish Hall attended by then Governor of Queensland, Colonel Sir Henry Abel Smith, was to be staged during the 1962 festival.
Mackay Tourist Festival and Sweetheart of The Nation Festival events were also to be held during 1962 till 1973, at: Bakers Creek: 1965; Eimeo: 1970 & 1973; Gargett: 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970; Mirani: 1964; Mount Vince: 1971; Palmyra: 1973; Sarina: 1967, 1969, 1970, 1972 and Seaforth: 1965 till 1971.
A festival newspaper ‘The Muckay Mockery’ was published annually from 1966 till 1973 (last reported edition). A total of 6,000 copies were to be published for the 1966 festival edition.
Tourist Festival Contests
An ‘Aquabelle’ contest replacing the ‘Aqua Maid Competition’ during the Aquacarna Events was to be held with 1st Place being won by: Miss Dianne Davies – in 1961 and Miss Viviane Weiske – in 1962. The first Mackay Tourist Festival Queen was to be later crowned during the 1964 Mackay Tourist Festival.
1964 Mackay Tourist Festival, Festival Queen, Miss Lynette Johnson. Photograph: The Daily Mercury, April 20, 1964.
The Mackay Tourist Festival Queen’s that were to be crowned were: Miss Lynette Johnson – in 1964, Miss June Williamson – in 1965, Miss Sheena Galletly – in 1966 (Pirate Queen), Miss Faye Butler – in 1967, Miss Carmel Smith – in 1968, Miss Kerry O’Riordan – in 1969, Miss Geraldine Orr – in 1970, Miss Marie Louise Howie – in 1971, Miss Debbie Black – in 1972, Miss Bronwyn Nelder – in 1973 and Miss Marie O’Riordan – in 1974.
A total of 7 entrants were to enter the inaugural 1964 Tourist Festival Queen Competition – advertised as the ‘Mackay APEX Club, Beauty Contest’. The 1965 competition, was to be named the ‘Festival Queen Competition’
During 1967 till 1974, Festival Queen Entrants, were to be sponsored by locally based associations, businesses, clubs and organizations.
The Mackay City Council, Mackay Harbour Board and the Pioneer Shire Council were also to donate money towards the running of the annual festival.
Mackay Tourist Festival Queens, Miss Kerry O’Riordan – in 1969, Miss Geraldine Orr – in 1970 and Miss Marie Louise Howie – in 1971, were also to be crowned and sashed as the annual ‘Sweetheart of The Nation’ winner.
Sweetheart of The Nation, Miss Kerry O'Riordan (crowned), is pictured with the other entrants of the 1969, Mackay Tourist Festival, 'Sweetheart of the Nation' Contest, at the Tourist Festival Procession. Photograph: Rae Trim Collection, Mackay Historical Society Archives.
Other Sweetheart of The Nation winners were to be Miss Lyn Myers – in 1967 (Previously: Barrier Reef Islands Festival, Coral Queen – 1966), Miss Beverley Hardwick – in 1968 (Miss Capricornia – 1967), Miss Donna Wheadon – in 1972 (Coral Queen – 1971), Miss Margaret Orr – in 1973 (Brisbane Warana Festival Queen) and Miss Rhonda Haupt (Sunshine Coast Show Queen – 1973) – in 1974.
Sweetheart of The Nation entrants were to consist of festival, show and rodeo queens from: Ayr, Babinda, Brisbane, Bowen, Bundaberg, Cairns, Clermont, Gayndah, Gladstone, Home Hill, Ingham, Innisfail, Ipswich, Mackay, Mossman, Mount Isa, Nambour, Proserpine, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Yeppoon amongst other cities and towns.
Entrants for the Sweetheart of The Nation contest during its inaugural year in 1967, were from ‘sugar producing areas in Australia’.
During 1963 till 1973, a Shop Window Exterior and Interior Display competition was also to be held annually in Mackay as part of the annual Mackay festival.
A Tourist Festival Baby Competition was also to be held during the 1965, 1966 and 1969 Mackay Tourist Festivals. The winners of the competition were: Fiona Dunn – in 1965 and Mark John De Pinto – in 1966. A ‘Best Baby’ prize was to be awarded to: Cassandra Dawson – in 1969.
Festival Amateur Theatre, Dancing, Music and Song
An advertisement for the Mackay Community Theatre's 1963 Mackay Tourist Festival Production 'Dial M For Murder'. Photograph: 'The Daily Mercury', April 24, 1963.
During 1960 till 1968, Mackay amateur theatre organization the ‘Mackay Community Theatre’ – now known as the ‘Kucom Theatre’; was to stage a regular Mackay Tourist Festival amateur theatre production. These productions were to be: The Reluctant Debutante – in 1960, We Must Kill Toni – in 1961, Doctor in The House – in 1962, Dial M for Murder – in 1963, The Tea House of The August Moon – in 1964, See How They Run – in 1965, Doctor at Sea – in 1966 and Seven Nuns at Las Vegas – in 1968.
Theatre Production Lilac Time by Mackay amateur theatre organization the ‘Mackay Musical Comedy Players’, and Boeing Boeing by the ‘Sarina Little Theatre’, was to be staged during the 1969 Mackay Tourist Festival.
‘The Betty Meskell School of Dancing’, was to also stage its then dancing presentations: Play Box – in 1965, Dream Maker – in 1966 and Step ‘n’ Time – in 1968, during the annual Mackay Tourist Festival.
The Australian Broadcasting Commission was to also conduct concerts during the: 1962, 1965 and 1973 annual Mackay Tourist Festivals. The 1965 and 1973 ABC concerts were part of the then annual ‘ABC Subscription Concert Series’ conducted in Mackay.
Music Performances by then well-known Australian singers and bands, were also to occur at events during the Mackay Tourist Festival’s history. These performers included: Lynne Randell – in 1966, Ronnie Burns – in 1967, Denise Drysdale and Johnny Farnham – in 1968, Tony Barber – in 1973 and Johnny Greenwood – in 1974.
A song ‘Come to Mackay’ composed by Professor Frank Hutchens – then of the ‘Sydney Conservatorium of Music’, was to be prepared for and performed at the 1962 Mackay Tourist Festival.
The last ‘Mackay Tourist Festival’, conducted by the ‘Mackay Travel League’ was to be later held in Mackay during April 1972.
Sweetheart of the Nation Festival
In April 1973 and April 1974, the festival had a name change as the ‘Sweetheart of The Nation Festival’ which was also to be conducted by the ‘Mackay Travel League’.
The Barrier Reef Islands Promotional Council, Coolabah Toastmasters’ Club, Feline Fanciers Club, Mackay Highland Dancing Association, Interact Club, Mackay Amateur Swimming Club, Mackay APEX Club, Mackay West APEX Club, Mackay Art Society, Mackay Camera Club, Mackay Historical Society, Mackay Horticultural Society, Mackay Jaycees, Mackay Kennel Club, Mackay Marching Girls’ Association, Mackay Motor Racing Club, Mackay Movie Club, Mackay Orchid Society, Mackay Poultry and Pigeon Club, Mackay Regatta Club, Mackay RSL Club, Mackay Rotary Club, Mackay Rugby League, Mackay Show Association, Mackay Turf Club, North Mackay Bowling Club, North Queensland Society for Crippled Children, Palmyra Drag Club, Pioneer Valley Lions Club, Rotary Club of Mackay West, Rotoract, Rural Youth Organisation, Sarina Tourist Promotional Council, Seaforth Progress Association, Southern Suburbs Football Club, Warralong Ballet Society, Whitsunday Shell Club and Y.W.C.A. amongst others were to also stage events during both the Mackay Tourist Festival and Sweetheart Of The Nation Festival long history.
Following the 1974 festival, a lack of interest by community groups attending the Mackay Travel Leagues Annual General Meeting and the departure of the Mackay Travel League’s Secretary/Organiser resulted in the Mackay Travel League’s demise on February 3, 1975 – ending the festival and league’s long history.
Festival Special Guests
Special Guests during the Mackay Tourist and Sweetheart of The Nation Festival’s History included: Tony Barber – in 1973, Humphrey B. Bear – in 1971 and 1972, Ronnie Burns – in 1967, Betty Cuthbert – in 1963, Denise Drysdale – in 1968, Johnny Farnham (John Farnham) – in 1968, Willie Finnell – in 1963 and 1964, John ‘Johnny’ Greenwood – in 1974, Gabrielle Hartley – in 1970, Alan Humphreys – in 1964, ‘Captain’ Jim Iliffe – in 1961, Mike Minehan – in 1969, Kenneth Morris M.L.A. (Deputy Premier of Queensland) – in 1959, Charles Moses – in 1961, Alec Nichol – in 1971, Frank Nicklin M.L.A. (Premier of Queensland) – in 1961 and 1967, Lynne Randell – in 1966, Don Seccombe – in 1959, Sir Henry Abel Smith (Governor of Queensland) – in 1962, Tony Sneazwell – in 1964, Jennifer Thorne – in 1965, Robyn Thorne – in 1964 and 1965, Sam Trimble – in 1974, Russ Tyson – in 1962 and Michael Willesee – in 1971.
Louiza (Louisa) Van Deurzen (Sun Girl Quest, Winner) – in 1963, Nancy Knudsen (‘The Sunday Mail’ Sun Girl Quest, Winner) – in 1959, Roberta Newman (Sydney Waratah Festival Queen) – in 1973, Deleece Stolz (Sun Girl Quest, 2nd Place Winner) – in 1961, Gay Walker (1972 Miss Australia) – in 1972 and Joan Zealand (1970 Miss Universe – Australia Entrant) – in 1970 were also to attend as guests of the Tourist and Sweetheart of The Nation Festivals.
Sugartime Festival
Following the last Sweetheart of the Nation festival, the annual ‘Sugartime Festival’, was later to be held annually in Mackay during 1979 till 2001 – renamed ‘TropiCarnivale’ during 2002.
The Sugartime and Tropicarnivale Festivals, were to be conducted by the Mackay Lions Club and later Mackay Host Lions Club.
Today with the passing of time, 52 years on since the last festival was staged (at the time of publishing), the Mackay Tourist and Sweetheart of The Nation Festivals hold special memories for those who not only participated in them but also attended them during 1959 till 1974.
In recent times, uploading of old photographs of the festivals on social media and the digitalization of Cinesound Newsreels featuring highlights of the festivals of the 1960's by the 'British Movietone' and 'British Pathe' on YouTube, have also provided a visual opportunity to also reminisce long after the festivals have been held.
Mr. Pritchard and the Mackay Historical Society would like to thank Mrs. Helen Martin and Mrs. Janette McGrath for their assistance this article.
