Mavis Irene McClements (1916 - 1996) Acknowledging an accomplished historian in Proserpine’s 150th year

In 1860, Daniel Emmerson and his two sons took up leases in the district and on August 30 1861, successfully applied for the lease of The Proserpine Creek Run (The first recorded use of the name ‘Proserpine’).

In 1870, Charles Bradley was the first actual settler living in the Gregory area. About the same time, Mr MacArtney took up land at Lethebrook (then known as Banana Pocket).

Then, in 1872, there was a gold rush at Normanby near Bowen and Happy Valley out from Proserpine where a small township on the diggings at Paul’s Pocket sprang up. J. A. Gregory, after whom the river is named, also settled in the area.

You may well ask why the year 1873 is recognised as when Proserpine started.

The answer? 1873 was the year the Waite brothers, George and Charles, took up a selection of land extending from the railway corner to Glen Isla on the south side of Main Street. They were amongst the first to do so. Pioneer, George Waite, came to be regarded as The Father of Proserpine.

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So, just where does Mavis McClements fit into this story?

Mavis was a member of the Royal Historical Society of Queensland; a passionate and accomplished historian most well-known for writing the book, “The Story of Proserpine: 100 years of Settlement 1873 - 1973” which was commissioned by Council.

The McClements came from the Bankstown area to Proserpine just before Cyclone Ada (1970) after Richard McClements was transferred to Proserpine State High School.

While living in Sydney, Mavis had acquired numerous pieces from second-hand and antique shops however, their home was not a suitable location. So, with all their remarkable collections in hand, two years after arriving in Proserpine, on March 25 1972, their Folk Museum, located in Marathon Street, was opened. The McClements ran their very popular museum until 1980 when they sold it and all its contents to Gordon and Merle Staniland who relocated it to Braemar on the Shute Harbour Road.

Never one to be idle, Mavis was prolific in researching all aspects of the history of the Whitsundays. On April 24 1975, she presented a reading “A Town called Proserpine” at a meeting of the Royal Historical Society. In that same year, she wrote the story of St Catherine’s Parish for their Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

Mavis also completed a history of the Proserpine Sugar Mill which she undertook on a voluntary basis. This research formed part of the booklet celebrating the mill’s 50th anniversary as a co-operative.

From “Proserpine Guardian” September 22 1978 - Mrs McClements’ letter to the editor referred to another history which she had written - the history for the Proserpine Primary School’s 75th anniversary which the then Principal, Mr Kevin Boylan, had asked her to write. Apparently, there was some disagreement between members of the Parents and Citizens Association and the history “never surfaced”.  She also worked on the compilation of a history of the coast between Bowen and Mackay, including the Cumberland and offshore islands.

Ever the advocate for women, in May 1978, Mavis presented a paper entitled “A Tribute to a Working Woman” at the Women and Labour Conference at the Macquarie University.  

Mavis was versatile and her interests many – she was a member of the Arts and Crafts Society and an enthusiastic member of the Australian Labor Party. She also had a most interesting collection of dolls and bears.

We are indebted to Mavis McClements for her work in preserving the history of Proserpine’s first 100 years.

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Story and photo courtesy Proserpine Historical Museum.