Mia Mia is one hour’s drive from Mackay in North Queensland, which means the same humid subtropical climate with maximum temperatures around 30 degrees C and a minimum of around 23 degrees C in winter. The minimum temperature seldom drops below 2 degrees C. Spring is usually more dry and hot and humid than winter. The heavy downpours usually arrive later in the summer with the wet season traditionally starting in December. The locals are currently predicting the wet season is coming later than previously. Cyclones occur occasionally often with devastating effect on people and property.

An unusually wet season was experienced in 1863 with a cyclone the following year. The Islands in the North bore the brunt of the bad weather. Cyclone Éline’ damaged Mackay buildings in 1893 ‘the mortuary chapel at the cemetery was blown over and alarmingly the old city brewery in Shakespeare Street collapsed with damage to the machinery’.

Drought followed in 1897. The Great cyclone of 1918 cost the lives of 30 people and casualties of over 200. Buildings were the major casualties in Mackay with residents isolated for four days having now power and water for two weeks. It was a week before the sun came out again.

The Cremorne Aboriginal camp was ‘wiped out; the Leap School collapsed; the Eimeo Hotel lost its roof; sustained its visitors on ‘wallaby, a little tea and rice, and a biscuit or slice of bread.’
Worst hit was Finch Hatton where the school; halls; two sawmills; a factory and a number of houses were demolished. The surrounding areas all within range of Mia Mia; those of Pinnacle, Eton, Mirani and Walkerston suffered severe damage. Te Kowai Mill closed permanently.

Recalling the severe flood of 1958, when living on a cane farm at Mia Mia close to the bank of the Pioneer River, the family almost had to climb onto the roof of the house to escape the flooding. There was the slim possibility of one of the neighbours being able to reach us in a dingy but it did was not necessary even though the river had burst its banks not far from our house. A “hair raising experience” as my mother could not swim and being the eldest at 10 years of age; their were four other children and it occurred at mid-night. We may not have survived.