The locality of Mirani is predominantly flat land used for sugar cane farming. It is bounded to the south by Lake Kinchant, the impoudment created by the Kinchant Dam. The Pioneer River passes through the locality from west to north and forms part of the northern boundary. The Mackay–Eungella Road passes from east to north-west through the locality. There are a network of private tramways through Mirani to transport the sugar cane to the Mackay Sugar mills.[4]
The town of Mirani is situated centrally within the locality on the eastern bank of the Pioneer River with Mackay-Eungella Road passing through it.[4]
The Pioneer Valley railway line coming west from Mackay to Mirani (then known as Hamilton) was built in 1885. Later the name was changed to Mirani to avoid confusion with Hamilton in Brisbane.[6] The line had the following stations servicing the locality (from west to east):
Between 1886 and 1896 land was made available for selection to be agricultural farms on the resumed portions of the Hamilton and Hopetown pastoral runs.[8][9]
The receiving office called Hamilton had provided limited postal services to the community, and in 1885 the name Hamilton was changed to Hopeton.[10][11] Mirani Post Office replaced the Receiving office in April 1890.[12]
Mirani Provisional School opened on 18 January 1892, becoming Mirani State School on 11 March 1897. In 1961, the school added a secondary department, which operated until a separate secondary school was opened in 1967. The school was located at Augusta Street on the site of the current secondary school.[13][4] On 22 June 1968, the school relocated to its present site in Maud Street with new buildings.[14][15][16][17]
On Sunday 10 December 1899, BishopJoseph Higgins, accompanied by 500 other people, travelled by special train to Mirani, where Higgins laid the foundation stone for a new Catholic church in Mirani.[18][19] The new convent was opened on Sunday 6 April 1924.[20] A new church opened on Sunday 5 June 1927.[21]
On Sunday 15 March 1908, Reverend T. Hely-Wilson laid the foundation stone for an Anglican church.[22][23] The church opened on Sunday 20 September 1908, when it was dedicated to the Good Shepherd.[24][25] In August 1951, BishopWilfred Belcher opened a new Good Shepherd Anglican Church.[26]
On Sunday 12 July 1908, a Presbyterian church opened in Mirani.[27] The church was re-opened on 4 August 1918.[28]
On 4 September 1913, the Shire of Mirani was established, split from the Shire of Pioneer under the Local Authorities Act 1902. Mirani was the administrative centre of the shire.
The 1918 Mackay cyclone struck the city of Mackay, Queensland, Australia on 20–21 January 1918.[29] It remains one of the most destructive cyclones to strike a populated centre in Australia.
Mirani State High School opened on 23 January 1967.[14][15][30][31]
At the 2006 census, the town of Mirani had a population of 813.[32]
^"The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XLI, no. 8, 868. Queensland, Australia. 17 June 1886. p. 4. Retrieved 5 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"SANDY CREEK RAILWAY". Mackay Mercury. Vol. 70, no. 52. Queensland, Australia. 31 October 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^Phoenix Auctions History. "Post Office List". Phoenix Auctions. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
^"Correspondence". The Week. Vol. XIX, no. 491. Queensland, Australia. 23 May 1885. p. 7. Retrieved 5 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Monthly Postal Guide". The Telegraph. No. 5, 458. Queensland, Australia. 11 April 1890. p. 2. Retrieved 5 February 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Our school". Mirani State School. 10 February 2020. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2021.
^"Queensland". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. LVI, no. 13, 079. Queensland, Australia. 12 December 1899. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Telegraphic News". The North Queensland Register. Vol. X, no. 53. Queensland, Australia. 11 December 1899. p. 51. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Church services". Daily Mercury. Vol. 58, no. 908. Queensland, Australia. 28 March 1924. p. 7. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Church services". Daily Mercury. Vol. 60, no. 4555. Queensland, Australia. 3 June 1927. p. 6. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Local General". Daily Mercury. No. 743. Queensland, Australia. 12 March 1908. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Opening of a church". Daily Mercury. No. 932. Queensland, Australia. 12 September 1908. p. 4. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Church of England, Mirani". Daily Mercury. No. 939. Queensland, Australia. 21 September 1908. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Mirani church dedication". Daily Mercury. Vol. 85, no. 203. Queensland, Australia. 25 August 1951. p. 9. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Mirani Presbyterian Church". Daily Mercury. No. 846. Queensland, Australia. 9 July 1908. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Church services". Daily Mercury. Queensland, Australia. 27 July 1918. p. 3. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021 – via National Library of Australia.