Macknade, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Macknade Queensland
Transporting harvested sugarcane on a cane tramway to the sugar mill, 2008
Macknade Location in Queensland
Population	203 (2021 census)
• Density	3.030/km2 (7.85/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4850
Area	67.0 km2 (25.9 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	16.1 km (10 mi) NE of Ingham 129 km (80 mi) NW of Townsville 1,459 km (907 mi) NNW of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Shire of Hinchinbrook
State electorate(s)	Hinchinbrook
Federal Division(s)	Kennedy
Localities around Macknade: Rungoo Hinchinbrook Channel Hinchinbrook Channel Bemerside Macknade Lucinda Cordelia Cordelia Halifax

Macknade is a small town located by the coast in Queensland, Australia. It's part of the Shire of Hinchinbrook. In 2021, only about 203 people lived there, making it a quiet place.

Where is Macknade?

Macknade is surrounded by several rivers and waterways. The Herbert River flows along its south and east sides. The Seymour River is to the west. To the north, you'll find the Hinchinbrook Channel. This channel separates the mainland from Hinchinbrook Island. There's also another waterway called Seaforth Channel nearby.

A Look at Macknade's Past

Macknade sugar plantation viewed from the Herbert River, 1874

Macknade started as a sugar plantation and mill in 1874. The company that owned it was called the Macknade Sugar Company. The town got its name from this sugar mill. The mill itself was named after a house in Kent, England. This was where the mill's first owners used to live.

The first school in Macknade opened on November 13, 1893. It was called Macknade Provisional School. Later, on January 1, 1909, it became Macknade State School. A post office also opened in the town around 1901. It closed down on October 29, 1993.

Macknade's Economy

Sugar Production

The Macknade Sugar Mill is very important to the town. It sits right on the banks of the Herbert River. This mill is the oldest raw sugar mill in all of Queensland. In 2005, it crushed a huge amount of sugarcane: 1.82 million tonnes!

Prawn Farming

Because Macknade is near the coast and rivers, it's also a good place for aquaculture. This means farming seafood. A large prawn-farming business called Seafarms operates here. They have a big farm on Neames Inlet Road.

Education in Macknade

Macknade State School, 2020

Macknade State School is a primary school for kids from Prep to Year 6. It's a government school for both boys and girls. You can find it at 79 Farrell Drive. In 2018, the school had 26 students and 6 teachers.

There isn't a high school in Macknade itself. Students who want to go to secondary school usually travel to Ingham. The nearest government high school is Ingham State High School, which is to the south-west.