News and Articles
The Mackay’s Modernist City that never was
Written by Nicholas McDougall of the Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society | Published March 2025 Karl Langer was an Austrian-born architect, town planner, and landscape architect, one of Queensland's most influential architects. Born in Vienna in 1903, Karl...
Sugartropolis: Discover Sugar City Art Deco
Written by Nicholas McDougall of the Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society | Published March 2025 On the banks of the Pioneer River, surrounded by seemingly endless patchworks of sugar cane fields, is the city of Mackay, the gateway to North Queensland. Mackay Is...
Michelmore and More
Written by Vicky Bowden of the Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society | Published May 2022 Numerous Mackay families made their commercial mark on our regional town, many trading successfully for many decades. As Mackay grew post-first world war (and post...
Heritage Fun Day at Let the Children Play | 28 May 2022
The Sugar City Art Deco & Modernism Society have partnered with renowned Mackay toyshop, Let the Children Play, for their 2022 Heritage Fun Day. Bring the family and join us on Saturday 28th May 2022 from 9.30am - 3pm. Children of all ages can enjoy free...
Sugar meets Construction – the (old) McDonalds of Mackay
Written by Vicky Bowden of the Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society | Published April 2022 Whilst the Guthrie brothers were responsible for the erection of many of Mackay’s well-loved Art Deco landmarks, another family – the McDonalds – built many other...
Ambassador Hotel – Style Risen from the Ashes
Written by Vicky Bowden of the Sugar City Art Deco and Modernism Society | Published September 2021 Behind Mackay’s Art Deco facade hide many stories of the people who designed, built, owned, lived and worked in these buildings over the span of close to 100 years....