Official Opening of Lamberts Lookout

Mrs Gilbert MP; Mayor Williamson; other distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen. Kaye and I are delighted to be with you today. I at once acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands around Mackay, and express respect to Elders, past and present.

There are few better times to be in tropical Queensland than in this glorious ‘Goldilocks’ season – not too hot; not too cold; but just right.

Indeed, standing here at the Lamberts Lookout, it’s hard not to recall that Tourism Queensland slogan from the eighties – ‘beautiful one day; perfect the next’.

On a day like today, this beautiful spot certainly warrants that slogan, with its 360-degree views along the coast and out to the National Park islands of the Cumberland group.

It was very pleasing that the Queensland Government acted in twenty-fifteen to ensure the future of this, and selected other lookouts in regional Queensland, by committing 3.2 million dollars to bring them up to the standard we now see here.

Investing in infrastructure like this is critically important to the future of Queensland’s tourism industry and I congratulate the Mackay Regional Council on their far-sighted decision to co-fund this redevelopment. They have consulted widely with the community and have worked closely with BOLD Architecture and Interior Design and project builders WHF Group, and with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to bring the project to a successful conclusion.

Importantly, the Lookout is not only an important contribution to this region’s future; it is also a tribute to history, to one of Mackay’s greats – Samuel Lambert.

Sam arrived in Mackay in the 1880s and was much admired and respected as a Council alderman and Mayor and as the founder of his legendary Victoria Street drapery store.

I find it particularly pleasing that, more than a century after his death, the name of this civic-minded man is recorded permanently in the name of the beach below and of this lookout – Lambert’s Beach was not owned by Sam Lambert, it was simply the place where the Lambert’s company picnics were held.

It is fitting that this Lookout will enable local residents and visitors to relax and enjoy themselves – and to hopefully spot a whale or two – here as those Lambert’s employees did, more than a hundred years ago.

It now gives me great pleasure to officially declare open the Lamberts Lookout, and to shortly unveil a commemorative plaque. Thank you.