Returning to the area in 1862, Mackay established and subsequently lost, the extensive pastoral holding he had named "Greenmount".

Two years after the establishment of Mackay, the first sugar was planted on the Pioneer Plantation, introducing to the region its key agricultural product and industry.

[1] The first local government body formed in the Pioneer Valley region was the Mackay Municipal Council, which first met on 1 December 1869.

[1] The offices of the Pioneer Divisional Board were located within the boundaries of another local government area, the City of Mackay.

The board's first members were JE Davidson (chair), MH Black, R Martin, EM Long, W Hyne, A Kemmis, David Dalrymple, D Lacy and ES Rawson.

[1] In the late 1800s those involved in primary production required strong local government organisations to establish the road infrastructure needed to transport goods into and out of a region.

[1] By 1884 a total of 19,320 acres (7,820 ha) of land in the valley was being used to grow sugar cane, processed in the main through privately owned plantation mills.

Following recovery from the downturn, the Mackay region experienced a period of moderate growth, from mid 1885 to the 1920s, in both sugar production and population.

The Queensland Government completed the last extension to the Pioneer Valley line, west to Netherdale, after its takeover of the Finch Hatton section on 1 July 1910.

This action made more land available for sugar cane growing, as well as allowing tourists easier access to the Eungella Range.

Another publican with sugar and pastoral interests, Edward "Ned" Hannan, served as a member of the Mirani and Pioneer Shires for various periods between 1905 and 1946.

[1] Mackay and the Pioneer River district experienced a period of considerable economic growth during the interwar years.

The following year work began on a new bridge over the Pioneer River at Sydney Street, to replace the earlier one damaged in the 1918 cyclone.

Designed in the Art Deco style by prominent local architect HVM Brown, the Pioneer Shire Council Building was erected by W Guthrie for a cost of £2,337.

In the years to 1940 Brown designed approximately thirteen buildings in Mackay, including a number of fine examples of the Art Deco style.

[1] Harold Brown's Art Deco council building served the Pioneer Shire adequately until the 1950s when conditions again became too cramped.

The words "PIONEER SHIRE COUNCIL" appear in low relief above the glazed panels and central entrance section.

The layout of the original building has a strong symmetry about the axis of the central passageway with various rooms opening to either side.

[1] The former Pioneer Shire Council Building was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 7 December 2007 having satisfied the following criteria.

As the designer of 13 buildings during the interwar period HVM Brown made an important contribution to the commercial centre of Mackay.

[1] The Pioneer Shire Council Building is good example of the Art Deco style transplanted to rural Queensland.

With its geometric facade stylised decoration, terracotta tiles and prominent lettering it demonstrates the characteristics of this style.

As one of a number of Art Deco style buildings constructed in Mackay and many sugar industry towns during the interwar period, and for the contribution the Art Deco facade with tropical motifs makes to Wood Street, the Pioneer Shire Council Building is important because of its aesthetic significance.