[1] The town is located on the south bank of the Pioneer River approximately 24 kilometres (15 mi) west of Mackay.

Surrounding the town is farmland, mostly growing sugar cane, which is serviced by a network of rail lines.

[7] In December 1882, Helen Porter Mitchell (later Dame Nellie Melba) married Charles Armstrong, the manager of the Marian Sugar Mill.

Their home was later relocated to a riverbank location on Eungella Road in Edward Lloyd Park two kilometres from the centre of Marian and named Melba House.

[5] The Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School was officially opened on Sunday 6 April 1924 by Bishop Joseph Shiel.

[15] On Whitsunday 5 June 1927, Bishop Shiel officially opened and blessed the new Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

[28] The Mackay Regional Council operates a mobile library service on a fortnightly schedule at the Mackay-Eungella Road near the school.

Opened in 2013, the centre has a full line Woolworths, The Reject Shop, Subway and a Porters Mitre 10.