Pioneer Valley Museum in Mirani, Queensland, Australia | Civilisation museum

Pioneer Valley Museum

Locality: Mirani, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 7 4961 9229

Address: Victoria Street 4754 Mirani, QLD, Australia

Website: www.mackay.qld.gov.au/community/arts,_culture_and_heritage/pioneer_valley_museum

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21.01.2022 Interested in helping to shape the future of our region's museums? Now's your chance to have your say! Tell us your thoughts on Mackay region museums via our survey on Connecting Mackay.

20.01.2022 This #ThrowbackThursday, let's look at another of Mirani's local industries. After operating a brickworks in Mackay for a number of years, George Hardwick moved to Mirani during the 1880s. A brickmaker by trade, he established a brickworks in the vicinity of what is now The Mirani Caravan Park. Throughout the 1890’s, the brickworks was a thriving family business. At least two of George’s sons followed him into the business and took over following his death in 1901. One son ...was also a blacksmith, with his business located at Mirani West. The brickmaker and the blacksmith collaborated to produce the Memorial Gates at the Mirani Cemetery. One of the brickworks’ lines was curved bricks used for lining wells. #TBT #Mirani

19.01.2022 Check out this fun, quirky object from Mackay Regional Council's collection! It's all part of the Australian Heritage Festival 2021, celebrating "Our Heritage for the Future."

18.01.2022 National Volunteer Week is the annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation's volunteers. Mackay Regional Council and museum staff would like to thank all our volunteers for the vital role they play each and every day in protecting and preserving our region's history and sharing it with our community. Thank you for all you do!... #NationalVolunteerWeek #NationalVolunteerWeek2021 #thankyou

16.01.2022 This #ThrowbackThursday, we're sharing one of our archival photos of Mary Archbold and her brother William. During the Great War of 1914 -1918, Mary Archbold from the Pillbox at Newbury near Marian enlisted as a staff nurse in the Australian Army Nursing Service. She was assigned to the Sea Transport Section and made three voyages to England, caring for the Australian troops on board. In between voyages, she was attached to Australian Auxiliary hospitals in England. On Janu...ary 14 1919, Mary Archbold was detached from all duty with 1AAH and returned to Australia. On Armistice Day, November 11th, we remember those who served, with special thoughts for those who didn’t come home to Australia. #Throwbackthursday #tbt

14.01.2022 Jack Williams John Henry Williams was born in 1910 in Mackay and was the third generation of that name in Mackay. His grandfather, Captain John Henry Williams was a sea captain who settled in Mackay in 1873. Jack as a young lad was a keen amateur radio enthusiast. He owned a 1912 copy of Wireless Telegraphy and knew about Marconi tuners and crystal detectors. In 1925, Jack’s father bought a portable wireless which had been built in Rockhampton. Jack made improvements to it, a...Continue reading

13.01.2022 We're so fortunate to have talented writers amongst our volunteers! Leonie Fanning is a regular contributor to the Daily Mercury and is known for her fantastic history features. Read on to learn more about policing in Finch Hatton in the early years. ***** Early days at the Finch Hatton Police Station...Continue reading

13.01.2022 George Hardwick, after operating a brickworks in Mackay for a number of years, moved to Mirani during the 1880’s. A brickmaker by trade, he established a brickworks in the vicinity of what is now The Mirani Caravan Park. Throughout the 1890’s, the brickworks was a thriving family business. At least two of George’s sons followed him into the business and took over following his death in 1901. One son was also a blacksmith and that business was located at Mirani West. The brickmaker and the blacksmith collaborated to produce the Memorial Gates at the Mirani Cemetery. One of the brickworks’ lines was curved bricks used for lining wells. #ThrowbackThursday.#TBT.

12.01.2022 ##ThrowbackThursday Our museum is full of interesting items and some curiosities. One such curiosity is the phrenology head. Phrenology was the study of the shape of the human skull, and though it was debunked as a pseudoscience early on it nevertheless had lasting implications on social policies and on the development of the field of psychology. Google tells us this: "To anyone who has ever shaved his or her head and been horrified by the lumps and dents hidden beneath, ...the idea that those bumps said anything about a person’s character might be unsettling. But for millions of people in the 19th century, phrenology provided comfort and insight, a way to know and understand behaviour and personality with seemingly scientific precision." #TBT See more

10.01.2022 MUSEUM CLOSURE Just a quick reminder that Pioneer Valley Museum will be closed to the public this Tuesday, November 17th due to a scheduled power outage. We thank you for your understanding.

10.01.2022 MUSEUM CLOSURE Please note that Pioneer Valley Museum will be closed to the public next Tuesday, November 17th due to a scheduled power outage. We thank you for your understanding.

09.01.2022 Interested in learning more about how museum staff care for our artefacts, and how you can use the same sorts of tips and tricks at home to care for your heirlooms? Join museum staff at Gordon White Library for our upcoming seminar, Antique Rescue! Bookings are essential, so click the link below to reserve your spot.

07.01.2022 Rex Theatre Mirani G. W. Orchard spent his boyhood in the care of his grandparents George and Catherine Gwyther at Mirani. As a young man, interests in cattle, butchering, the 1914 18 war and farming took him away from Mirani. In September 1937 old G.W. bought the Post Office, residence and Mirani Picture Theatre from one Jack Healy. The theatre at the time was half open air and when it rained, patrons had to scamper back under cover of the roofed area. Power was generated ...Continue reading

05.01.2022 The pioneer Valley Museum Volunteers and Mackay Regional Council Staff Having their Christmas Break up Lunch at the Criterion Hotel Finch Hatton Every one enjoyed a Lovely meal complements to Hotel Staff. On Behalf of the Pioneer Valley Museum we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year hope to see you in 2021 when Museum Reopens in March

04.01.2022 Mackay Regional Council's museum team was recently approached by ABC Tropical North to share the stories of some of our favourite artefacts. In honour of Diabetes Awareness Month, we're sharing the story of how Type 1 diabetes affected the lives of Greenmount's residents in the 1920s. To learn more, visit Greenmount Homestead Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

04.01.2022 Policing in the Pioneer Valley Eungella Police Station The Eungella gold field was proclaimed in November 1888 with thirty claims and thirteen protection areas being registered. Eungella Police Station opened on 20th December 1889. Constable James Sargant [Reg. No. 563] drew a map of the area in 1890 showing the diggings, road leading in, the school, the five hotels, Broken River and other buildings and features [map on display].... The Daily Mercury on 14/11/1947 featured a story provided by Messrs A.C. Edwards, James Pascoe and William James Higham about Constable Sargant: Constable Jim Sargant in charge of the police station told the new arrivals the morning’s news. He had chained a prisoner to a log as there was no lock-up in the locality. The prisoner feeling somewhat lonely and more than a little thirsty had in the absence of the police officer picked up the log and shouldered it into the nearest pub for a drink. Much refreshed he had then returned to his prison, log and all. Inspector B. Isley from Mackay personally inspected the Diggings on 22nd June 1891. And the goldfield area was in a decline. The police station was closed on 21st November 1891. By 1907, the old police station had burnt to the ground. Marian Police Station 1907 Constable Gamble occupied premises rented from Mr Franz Michael Walz in Daly Street Marian. 1913 Constable Marr transferred. 1917 Constable P. Torpey in charge. He moved into the new police station on the river on 16th June 1919. There was one cell 30 paces from the station and a separate forage and saddlery room with attached horse stall. 1922 Constable William Henry Fliori with family and Constable Linde stationed at Marian. Constable Linde lived in the saddlery room which was converted for his use until an extra room was built onto the cell for him in 1923. 1927 Constable O.H. Smith in charge. 1933 Constable L.E. O’Brien in charge. He was promoted to Sergeant 2/c in 1937. 1948 Sergeant 2/c M.P. O’Shea in charge. 1950 Constable E.W. Whittaker attached to Marian Station. 1951 Sergeant 2/c J.B. Chambers in charge. 1952 Sergeant 2/c L.P. Ryan in charge. 1953 Electricity connected to the station. 1959 Station connected to town water. 1960 Constable 1/c F.P. Long at Marian. Sergeant 2/c W.O.J. Kielly took charge on 28th July. 1961 Ford Falcon in use at Marian Police Station. 1963 Septic toilets constructed at the police station at Marian. 1964[c.] Sergeant 2/c N.J. Lane in charge. 1967 Marian upgraded to two men station. 1975 Sergeant 2/c Buchbach in charge. 1975 Senior Constable L.K. Campbell stationed at Marian. 1976 Sergeant 2/c F.D. Butler stationed at Marian. 1977 Constable P.R. McGregor stationed at Marian. 1980[c.] Sergeant 2/c T.L. McGurgan in charge. #throwbackthursday #TBT. See more

04.01.2022 Early pioneers had to be very resourceful and as self- sufficient as possible. One such family who built a successful life in the Valley were the Rawsons, who in 1867 named their property The Hollow. Milking their own cows and churning the cream into butter, the family used this butter worker. Believed to be the only one of its kind in the district at the time, The Hollow’s butter worker helped smooth the churned butter. Excess liquid drained off through the central hole. F...resh milk, cream and butter, which we all take for granted today, were produced in the early years after many hours of hard yakka.Mrs Charles Rawson won 1st prize for butter, fresh, not less than 2 lbs at the Mackay Agricultural, Pastoral and Mining Society's Annual Show held on 22nd and 23rd September 1881. Come check out this fascinating item and many more at Pioneer Valley Museum! We're open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30am to 2:30pm. #throwbackthursday #TBT

04.01.2022 MUSEUM CLOSURE Pioneer Valley Museum is closed to the public today due to a scheduled power outage. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to seeing you tomorrow during our regular hours, 10:00am to 2:30pm.

01.01.2022 As part of the Australian Heritage Festival 2021, we're sharing some of the more unique objects in Mackay Regional Council's museum collections. This hydrometer was used by State Health Inspectors to measure the alcohol content in alcoholic beverages, in this case beer and spirits. Why did they do this? In the past, pubs were known to water down their beer and spirits, so the government sent agents around to make sure that the alcohol that was being sold by licensed premise...s met legislative standards. This hydrometer was used by Paddy Flynn in the 1960s and 1970s, but as laws and instrumentation changed over the course of the 1970s, hydrometers like this one became a thing of the past. Digitising our collections is a massive undertaking, but we look forward to the day when we can share all of our collection digitally with interested individuals near and far! #mackayregionmuseums #mackaypride #ahf2020 #AHF2021 #heritage4future