Selwyn House, Mackay

Selwyn House is a single-story structure with timber supports and timber features, including bay windows and double-hung sash windows throughout. The building's verandahs are enclosed and clad in fibro, creating distinct interior spaces designed for educational activities.

The building was established around 1896 when Mary Goodwin Robinson founded the Selwyn Mission to train South Sea Islander workers. The mission responded to the educational needs of the large labor force employed in the region's sugar industry.

The house reflects educational efforts that served South Sea Islander workers during Mackay's early sugar industry period. Its design and setting still show this mission-focused purpose today.

The house keeps its original wooden features including chamfered boards and French doors, while interior spaces have been modified to serve different purposes. Its position near sugar cane fields and close to Racecourse Mill makes the setting easy to understand and observe from the site.

Mature palm trees and garden plantings frame the building, suggesting the horticultural interests of the mission's original residents. The contrast between this cultivated green space and the surrounding cane fields reveals how the mission occupied a different kind of landscape.

Location: Queensland

GPS coordinates: -21.16620,149.13740

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:03