MACKAY Harbour celebrated its 70th birthday today.
The harbour is situated at the "gateway" to the Whitsundays and is the major servicing centre for the mineral rich Bowen Basin.
The port of Mackay operates 24 hours per day, 7 days a week and typically handles some 150 major vessels per annum dependent upon seasonally affected agricultural production outcomes
Former Mackay Ports Limited chairman Graham Davies, now a board member of North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation, said it was a major milestone in the Mackay community.
Other milestones included the harbour being officially opened on August 26, 1939.
The bulk sugar handling terminal was approved in 1952 with the first consignment of bulk sugar shipped from Mackay in 1957. At the time of its opening in 1957 it was the world's largest sugar storage shed.
In October 1989 the Mackay Seaport expanded its operations to include responsibility for Mackay Airport, which lasted until December 2008.
In July this year the Mackay Ports Limited changed to North Queensland Bulk Ports organisation.
Image source: flickr/tanya ann
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