The Mackay Cricket and
Harrup Park Story: 1867 – Now
Harrup Park’s links to Lord’s
“the home of cricket”
John Ewen (JE) Davidson played in Mackay’s first official cricket match, and was a member of Marylebone Cricket Club, that owns Lord’s. He was Foundation President of the MCA.
Henry Finch Hatton arrived in Mackay in 1872, his brother Harold arrived in 1875, and both were keen cricketers who joined the Mackay Cricket Club. Henry and Harold’s ancestor Edward Finch Hatton, the 8th Earl of Winchilsea, and two others had bought land that later became Lord’s.
4 May 1867
Mackay gets a cricket club
it all started on Monday November 9, 1868, with a
cricket match played on a very simple pitch marked
out on the grass of a paddock in what is now the
western end of Shakespeare Street.
9 November 1868
Town vs River Cricket Game
1868 to 1873
Cricket as part of Mackay’s Social Scene
1 May 1873
Mackay vs Broadsound, a “notable social occasion”
The MCC of 1873 was “flourishing”, with enough
players to field two teams.
Late 1881
A new committee and Mackay takes on Rockhampton
Cricketers at this time were visiting Mackay by boat.
There were many problems and long delays with the
tides and sandbanks. It wasn’t until the completion of
the North Coast railway in December 1923 that teams
could travel via train.
-
4 May 1867
Mackay gets a cricket club
4 May 1867
Mackay gets a cricket club
The Mackay Cricket Club (MCC) was formed at a meeting at the Golden Fleece Hotel in Wood Street. Not much more was done however until another meeting was called in September 1868 at the Royal Hotel, where a committee was formed and a subscription set at 5 shillings. Mackay now had a cricket club before it had a town council (which came in September 1869).
-
it all started on Monday November 9, 1868, with a
cricket match played on a very simple pitch marked
out on the grass of a paddock in what is now the
western end of Shakespeare Street. -
9 November 1868
Town vs River Cricket Game
-
1868 to 1873
Cricket as part of Mackay’s Social Scene
-
1 May 1873
Mackay vs Broadsound, a “notable social occasion”
-
The MCC of 1873 was “flourishing”, with enough
players to field two teams. -
Late 1881
A new committee and Mackay takes on Rockhampton
-
Cricketers at this time were visiting Mackay by boat.
There were many problems and long delays with the
tides and sandbanks. It wasn’t until the completion of
the North Coast railway in December 1923 that teams
could travel via train.
