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| 1770 | June 1 | Captain James Cook of the HMS Endeavour passes close by the coastline off Mackay. He names cape Palmerston, Slade Point, Cape Hillsborough before heading north to the Whitsunday Islands. |
| 1793 | Captain William Brampton discovering the "Brampton" Shoals. | |
| 1819 | June 7 | Lieutenant Phillip Parker King passes Slade Point and comments on fires on the coast at Cape Hillsbourough evidence of a substantial Aboriginal population. |
| 1843 | February/March | Captain Blackwood of HMS "Fly" lands near Armstrong's Beach and Sarina Inlet. Jukes the botanist assesses the land between Cape Palmerston and the Whitsunday passage and deems it most fertile than any on the coast they have seen. |
| 1860 | May 25 | John Mackay's expedition party reach the coast of Mackay having traversed the Pioneer Valley. |
| 1862 | January | John Mackay drives a herd of cattle and settles on Greenmount Knoll the first settlement in the Mackay district. |
| 1862 | August | John Mackay leaves Greenmount after partnership with James Starr goes sour. |
| 1862 | November 23 | Lieutenant G.P. Heath in the Rockhampton Pilot Boat "Satellite" and surveys the river |
| 1862 | October | First residents arrive in the fledgling township of Port Mackay and start building first stores. |
| 1862 | December 27 | Mackay River renamed the "Pioneer River". Commodore Burnett of the HMS "Pioneer" in September 1862 traversed the Queensland coastline and as there was already a "Mackay" River in Rockingham Bay proposed to rename the river "Pioneer" to avoid confusion. |
| 1863 | January 9 | First Post Office opened in Mackay. |
| 1863 | February 5 | Mackay declared a "port of entry and clearance". |
| 1863 | May | Thomas Henry Fitzgerald completes first survey of Mackay township and proposes the name for the settlement as "Alexandra" which is subsequently altered to "Mackay". |
| 1863 | October 13 | First sale of Mackay land held at Bowen. |
| 1864 | August | Passing of the "Sugar and Coffee Regulations Act" by the Queensland Parliament. This Act gives impetus to the development of the Queensland Sugar Industry. |
| 1864 | August 4 | First Mackay Court of Petty Sessions held. |
| 1865 | June 1 | John Spiller plants first lot of Sugar Cane in Mackay. |
| 1865 | June 29 | First Horse Race Meeting held. |
| 1866 | April 4 | W.O. Hodgkinson commences publication of the towns first newspaper the "Mackay Mercury". |
| 1866 | Thomas Henry Fitzgerald takes up land on south banks of Pioneer River and calls plantation "Alexandra" | |
| 1867 | May 13 | First South Sea Islanders arrive aboard the ship "Prima Donna". 70 arrive to start work as indentured labourers on plantations around Mackay. |
| 1867 | June | John Spiller operates first sugar Mill in the district a small wooden mill operated by horses. |
| 1868 | First large Sugar Mill "Alexandra" starts crushing. Owned by T.H. Fitzgerald in partnership with Scotsman John Ewan Davidson. | |
| 1869 | December 1 | First meeting of the newly formed Mackay Municipal Council. David Hay Dalrymple is the town's first Mayor. |
| 1870 | First Aboriginal Reserve created from surviving district Aborigines between Bakers and Sandy Creeks by George Bridgman. It was estimated that over half of the District's Aborigines had died since white settlement in less than 10 years. | |
| 1872 | Copper ore discovered at Mount Flora south west of Nebo. | |
| 1875 | Rust epidemic nearly destroys Mackay's fledging Sugar Industry. John Henry Fitzgerald one the pioneers of the industry is forced into bankruptcy. | |
| 1877 | December 10 | First issue of the Mackay
Standard Newspaper. Published daily from 3 April 1911; fire destroyed
building and plant 20 December 1918; resumed publication January 1919 with
assistance from Daily Mercury; ceased 15 March 1919). |
| 1880 | March 9 | Newly created Pioneer Divisional Board (later Pioneer Shire Council) meets for the first time |
| 1880 | July 21 | First issue of Mackay Free
Press & Pioneer Advocate Newspaper. (ceased 18 May 1882). |
| 1881 | February | Gold rush commences at Mount Britton after payable ore samples found. A Small township springs up but lasts for only a couple of years. |
| 1881 | A company of volunteers formed. Formalised as "F" Company | |
| 1881 | August 4 | Mackay's first tramway established by John Spiller on his Pioneer Estate on the North Side of the Pioneer River is officially opened. |
| 1884 | Mackay Gas company established. Gas Street lighting introduced to Mackay | |
| 1885 | August 10 | Railway line officially opened. Line went up the Pioneer Valley to Hamilton (now Mirani), one line went south to Eton via Newbury Junction. |
| 1885 | The first of 150 Javanese labourers arrive in Mackay to work for CSR's Homebush and Victoria Plantations. Many descendants of the these immigrants still live in the Mackay district. | |
| 1887 | December 31 | First issue of Mackay
Banner Newspaper.(ceased October 1888). |
| 1888 | January 1 | North Eton Sugar Mill officially opened by QLD Premier Samuel Griffith, the government financed Central Mill in Queensland. |
| 1888 | First Gaol in Mackay opened. Was located in North Mackay in area opposite present Kooyong Hotel east of Harbour Road. | |
| 1889 | February | Eungella goldfield proclaimed but rush only last for a few years. |
| 1889 | Gold found at Grasstree beach and the Zelma P.C. mine started by the Muggleton Gold Mining Company. a small township springs up around the mine. | |
| 1895 | February 2 | First issue of Daily
Chronicle Newspaper, Mackay (became tri-weekly as Mackay Chronicle,
5 August 1895; amalgamated with Mackay Mercury to become Daily
Mercury from 1 January 1906). |
| 1898 | February 1 | Cyclone "Eline" strikes Mackay. Flooding changes to the mouth of the Pioneer River to the current entrance at East Point. |
| 1901 | January | Mackay Celebrates Australian Federation with day long celebrations. |
| 1903 | April 8 | First meeting of the Mackay Town Council after Mackay was gazetted as a town. |
| 1905 | September 27, circa | First issue of Pioneer Newspaper,
Mackay (ceased 29 June 1912; became New Pioneer). |
| 1905 | December 23 | Constable Albert George Price murdered in Victoria Street by a Ceylon native named Johannes. |
| 1906 | January 1 |
Mackay Mercury Newspaper and Mackay Chronicle amalgamate to become the Daily Mercury; still published). |
| 1907 | A dedicated bowling Green opened in Wood Street. On site of present Canegrowers building. | |
| 1908 | First motor car arrives in Mackay. Owned by local Doctor Wallis Hoare. | |
| 1909 | December 18 | Well known and respected local Doctor George Tyndale Lloyd dies after being thrown from a horse in Brisbane Street. The Lloyd memorial in Queens Park was erected in honour of him. |
| 1911 | Sugar Mill workers strike causing huge disruption to local Sugar Industry. | |
| 1912 | October 12 | Mackay Town Hall in Sydney Street officially opened. |
| 1912 | Ormond Private Hospital Opened on Corner of Brisbane and Gordon Streets, Later the site of the Mater Hospital. | |
| 1918 | January 20/21 | The Great 1918 Mackay Cyclone hits Mackay and devastates the City. 22 people die in Mackay and over 80% of building badly damaged. |
| 1919 | April 15 | Inaugural meeting and creation of the Mackay District Rugby League. |
| 1919 | June | The Great Influenza epidemic claims it first Mackay victim, former Mayor James Prout Moule. |
| 1921 | September 24 | Final link in Railway line between Mackay and Rockhampton completed at Clairview. |
| 1923 | December 1 | Railway line linking Mackay to Townsville completed at Proserpine. |
| 1924 | April 9 | Mackay's first Electricity Powerhouse in Tennyson Street commences operation bring electricity to the city. |
| 1924 | Methodist Church opened in Gregory Street. Original church destroyed in 1918 Cyclone. Now home to the Salvation Army Thrift Shop. | |
| 1925 | July 25 | Foundation Stone laid for the Church of England Holy Trinity Church in Gordon Street. |
| 1926 | May 7 | Farleigh Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Ltd registered, takes over operations at Farleigh Sugar Mill. |
| 1929 | Christian Brothers College opened , later becomes St. Patrick's College. | |
| 1931 | January 12 | Mackay's first radio station "4MK" commences broadcasting from the Nelson Street family home of Johnny Williams. |
| 1933 | July 22 | Foundation stone for the Mackay Intermediate School unveiled by QLD Premier and Mackay Local Member William Forgan Smith. Later becomes the Mackay Central State School. |
| 1937 | September 4 | Opening of Church of England Parish Hall on the corner of Wood and Gordon Streets by QLD Premier and Mackay Local Member William Forgan Smith. |
| 1938 | March 30 | Official opening of the new "FORGAN" Bridge over the Pioneer River by the Premiers wife Mrs Forgan Smith |
| 1938 | March 31 | Opening of Mackay Court House in Victoria Street by QLD Premier and Mackay Local Member William Forgan Smith. |
| 1938 | April 1 | Opening of Mackay Fire Station in Alfred Street by QLD Premier and Mackay Local Member William Forgan Smith. |
| 1939 | April 15 | Opening of Slade Point State School by QLD Premier and Mackay Local Member William Forgan Smith. |
| 1939 | August 26 | First Ship arrives at Mackay's new Outer Harbour. The "Sydney Star" arrives to great fanfare, |
| 1939 | December | Mackay Junior Cricket Association formed. |
| 1940 | September 16 | Opening of The Civic Theatre in Gordon Street by QLD Premier and Mackay Local Member William Forgan Smith. This is still part of the Birch Carroll and Coyle Cinema Complex. |
| 1943 | June 1943 | Crash of US Army Air Force B17-C troop Transport Aircraft at Bakers Creek near to the present Borthwicks Meatworks. 40 US Servicemen killed and only one survivor . Still Australia's worst Aircraft Accident. |
| 1943 | September 12 | Visit to Mackay by Eleanor Roosevelt the wife of US President Roosevelt. Visits as part of a good will tour for the American Red Cross. |
| 1945 | August 13 | Mackay celebrates the end of World War 2 on VJ (Victory over Japan) day with daylong celebrations. |
| 1952 | May 31 | Jack Binnington defeats Ian Wood to take over the Mayoralty of the Mackay City Council. |
| 1954 | March 15 | Visit to Mackay by Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. Transferred from Lindeman Island and stayed for only a few hours. |
| 1956 | March 31 | The Mirani railway bridge is washed away by raging floodwaters causing immense disruption to Pioneer Valley residents. |
| 1957 | March 1 | Mackay Regional Electricity Board (M.R.E.B.) created taking over supply of Electricity from the Mackay City Council. |
| 1957 | July 27 | Unveiling of the John Mackay Memorial Clock in Victoria Street by QLD Premier, Vince Gair. |
| 1957 | July 27 | Official opening of the Mackay Bulk Sugar handling terminal by QLD Premier, Vince Gair. |
| 1958 | February 17 | Flood waters inundate Mackay. Small community at Foulden wiped out. 3 people drowned at Cremorne. |
| 1959 | February 16 | Cyclone "Connie" crosses the Queensland coast causing more flooding in the Pioneer River. The Forgan bridge damaged due to undermining of one pylon in floods the year before. The dip in the bridge is still noticeable today. |
| 1959 | May 2 | Electricity Supply switched on at Calen. |
| 1959 | August 1 | Railway line from Newbury Junction to Eton closed due to declining patronage. |
| 1959 | November 21 | Electricity Supply turned on at Finch Hatton |
| 1960 | February | The new Mackay State High School is opened in Milton Street. |
| 1960 | June 10 | Crash of T.A.A. Fokker Friendship "Abel Tasman" into the sea between Hay Point and Baker's Creek. All 29 persons on board killed. Still the worst commercial Aviation accident in Australia. Was the impetus in the development of the "Black Box" Flight Recorder used on all aircraft these days. |
| 1960 | November 12 | Electricity supply turned on at Eungella. |
| 1963 | December 14 | Opening of the Mackay War Memorial Swimming Pool in Milton Street. Built at a cost of 90,000 pounds. Opened by Postmaster-General COW.. Davidson. |
| 1964 | June 20 | The first Pioneer Valley show held at Finch Hatton. |
| 1965 | May 17 | Electricity Supply turned on at Carmila. |
| 1965 | July | Opening of Borthwicks Meatworks at Bakers Creek |
| 1966 | June 3 | Electricity Supply turned on at Nebo. |
| 1968 | August 9 | Mackay's first Commercial TV Station MVQ6 broadcasts for the first time. |
| 1969 | December 21 | The last Steam train passenger Service in Queensland from Mackay Railway Station in Boddington Street to the Mackay Outer Harbour signalling the end of the steam era of the Queensland Railways. |
| 1970 | January 18 | Cyclone "Ada" devastates island communities in the Whitsundays. |
| 1970 | April 4 | Albert Abbott wins election to become Mackay's longest serving Mayor losing his position in 1988. |
| 1970 | April 16 | Royal family visits Mackay briefly. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip arrive at Mackay Airport and travel through the city having a reception at the Holy Trinity Parish Hall before driving to the Harbour prior top embarking on HMAS "Stuart" to meet the HMS "Britannia" near St. Bees Island. |
| 1971 | November 5 | Official opening of the Hay Point to Goonyella Railway line by Australian Governor General Sir. Paul Hasluck. |
| 1972 | December 20 | Opening of new M.R.E.B. Administration building on the corner of Wood and Gordon Streets. |
| 1975 | October 11 | The new Mackay City Council Administration building in Gordon Street opened by the Minister for Northern Development and local MP for Dawson Dr. Rex Patterson. |
| 1977 | July 1 | Mackay Electricity Board takes over Electricity Supply from the M.R.E.B. |
| 1979 | March 26 | Canelands Shoppingtown officially opened by QLD Deputy Premier Dr. Llew Edwards. |
| 1980 | July 12 | Opening of the Ron Camm Bridge over the Pioneer River. |
| 1981 | June | Marsh and Websters Store operated by David Jones for a number of Years closed due to losing money. Building demolished and replaced by present National Australia Bank. |
| 1984 | March 29 | The largest coal terminal in the world at Dalrymple Bay opened by QLD Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. |
| 1988 | February 5 | The Mackay Entertainment Centre Officially opened by QLD Governor Sir Walter Campbell. |
| 1990 | August | Theatre Royal next to Taylor's Hotel demolished having been built in 1912 and remodelled in 1936. |
| 1991 | October 6 | New Mackay airport terminal opened. |
| 1992 | February 6 | Mackay Campus of the University of Central Queensland University officially opened at Planlands. |
| 1994 | November 11 | Mackay Refined Sugars Racecourse refinery officially opened. |
| 1998 | December 18 | Duplication of Ron Camm Bridge officially opened easing traffic congestion from South Mackay and North Mackay over the Pioneer River. |
| 2000 | June 8 | Closing of "Lamberts" department at "Centrepoint" shopping centre store a Mackay Icon after trading for 114 years. |
