Heritage Room

The Heritage Collection at Dudley Denny City Library holds a wide range of materials that document the history and growth of the Mackay region. It supports anyone interested in local stories, people, places, and events.

What the collection includes

The collection offers many types of resources, including:

  • Newspaper archives, Maps, Family history resources, Videos and DVDs and Pamphlets

These materials help community members explore Mackay’s past and understand how the region has developed over time.

Collection access and services

Accessing the Collection

You can visit the Heritage Collection Room at Dudley Denny City Library during normal library opening hours. Some items have duplicate copies available for loan from other library branches. Closed‑access items can be viewed by request or by making an appointment with the Heritage team.

Enquiries

The Heritage team can help with research questions in person or through the online request service.

Please allow at least 10 days for a response to heritage enquiries.

Microfilm Access

Microfilm and microfiche readers are available for public use.
Bookings are recommended to make sure a machine is available.

Donations

We accept donations that relate to the history and development of the Mackay region.

All donated items are cared for to high preservation standards, we are selective about what is accepted. View the Heritage Collection Donation guideline. 

 Submit an item for donation assessment

Photograph collection

Browse the Heritage photograph collection online.

Copies are available on request and must follow copyright rules.
Requests can be submitted through the online request service.

Newspapers on microfilm

Microfilm Holdings
  • Mackay Standard (Nov. 1878 - 1905)
  • Mackay Mercury and South Kennedy Advertiser (1867 - 1905)
  • The Daily Chronicle (1895 - 1905)
  • The Daily Mercury (1906 - 2013)
  • The Mackay Midweek (1984 - 2008)
  • The Pioneer News (1984 - 2006)

 

Digital access

Trove, created by the National Library of Australia, provides digital access to newspapers.
It includes strong search tools that let you filter by keywords and date ranges.
You can also save digital copies of articles.

Available titles include:

  • Mackay newspapers up to 1955

Hard copy
  • The Daily Mercury (2014 - 2025)
  • The Mackay Midweek (2011 - 2017)
  • Mackay Telegraph (2013)

 

Indexes
  • Betty Clarke Index (card file) ca. 1980 - 2004
  • Ryerson Index (free index to death notices appearing in Australian newspapers)

The State Library of Queensland, University of Queensland and James Cook University also hold early Mackay newspapers on microfilm.

Mackay Heritage Discovery Trail and more history

Explore the region’s cultural and historical sites through interactive and immersive discovery trails. Start your journey and follow in the footsteps of local community members.

To learn more about the region’s history, view Mackay Regional Council's Heritage Planning Brochures.

Useful Online Resources

 

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