The town prospered as a port and as a commercial and administrative centre, drawing business from nearby pastoral holdings and the sugar cane plantations being developed along the river.

The situation was addressed by instituting a system of regional courts served by visiting magistrates or judges and which had police offices, accommodation and lock-up facilities on the same site.

The growth of the region was supported by local Member and Premier of Queensland William Forgan Smith and important improvements were made to the infrastructure of the town and harbour.

Although Mackay enjoyed prosperity, the country as a whole endured widespread unemployment during the Depression years and extensive public works programs were put in place to alleviate this.

The inspector's residence was built in 1936 and the watch house keeper's quarters in 1937, the difference in designation a subtle reflection of rank, although the buildings are very similar.

The size and quality of these ancillary buildings reflects not only the prestige accorded to these officers, but the prosperity of Mackay and the importance of its court and police station to the region.

It underwent additions and modifications for this purpose in 1940–1941, which extended the rear and created an upper level to part of the building to provide accommodation and a recreation room.

[1] Plans were drawn in 1961 for a new cell block and facilities by Architect in Association Colin Tesch and the new watch house was constructed in 1962–1963 at a cost of £35,140.

It is designed in the International Modernist style developed in Europe about twenty years before, which makes this a late example, though perhaps not in the local context.

It was built as part of a surge of post-war development in response to growth in the population and economy and following the lifting of restrictions imposed on building during and immediately after World War II.

[1] In 1989 the demolition of the police station was proposed, but the people of Mackay strongly supported retention of the building, which underwent refurbishment in 1990–1991 as did the 1938 Court House.

[1] The court house and police complex is situated in the central business district of Mackay on the corner of Victoria and Brisbane Streets.

[1] The Police Station (former Court House) is a classical revival building of rendered brick scribed to resemble stonework and is set well back from the street.

The street entrance features an arcaded Tuscan order portico with 3 bays separated by square pilasters rising through 2 stories to the triangular pediment, which has a circular louvred vent in its centre.

This entrance is flanked by single storey wings which continue the arcaded effect with arched windows, now filled with glass louvres.

It has two hipped roof bays flanking a parapeted Tuscan giant order colonnade, with paired cement rendered concrete columns and a wrought iron balustrade.

The high hipped main roof is clad in fibrous cement tiles and is topped by a fleche centred over an octagonal well in the first floor vestibule.

The interiors are well preserved and the entry and stair halls and the vestibule are panelled with polished silky oak, the floor being finished with coloured terrazzo.

[1] The watch house is 2 storey, rectangular in plan and is constructed of brick and patterned concrete blocks to an asymmetrical but balanced design.

The northern wing is of face brick featuring boldly framed deep set square windows and houses a staircase, records and storage.

As the site of a court and police station which developed through the late 19th and 20th centuries in response to changes to legislation, population and the administration of justice, it illustrates the way in which the legal system was implemented and administered.

The two court houses in particular are fine examples of public buildings of their era and are excellent representatives of the high quality work produced by the office of the government architect.

As substantial and prominently sited public buildings, of architectural merit, they make an important visual contribution to the character of Mackay.

The court house and police complex have had a long connection with the people of Mackay and the surrounding district as the focus for the administration of justice in the area.