About the Foundation
The Hannan Mason Foundation stands as a testament to three generations of the Hannan Mason family and their enduring contribution to the Mackay, Isaac, and Whitsunday regions.
Hannan Mason Foundation interests spanned extensive grazing leases and landholdings across the Bowen Basin, substantial cane-farming enterprises, multiple hotel licences throughout the 19th century, and a range of affiliated business operations.
Beyond their commercial influence, the Hannan Masons were recognised as pillars of civic leadership. Two generations served as long-standing Councillors, and several family members were respected advocates for regional industry and development.
Equally, they were a family committed to culture and education—sons and daughters who were well-schooled, musically accomplished, and deeply engaged in community pursuits.
The passing of Valda Ann Mason on 28 February 2021 marked the close of an extraordinary family chapter. Yet the spirit of their legacy endures. Through the creation of the Hannan Mason Foundation, their long tradition of community care, leadership, and regional stewardship continues to guide and benefit the region they helped build. “A legacy of care, leadership and community stewardship”.
The Hannan Mason Families
Edward Basil Hannan, known as Ned born 1869, moved to Nebo in Queensland in 1890 at the age of eighteen when he moved a consignment of blood horses from Maitland, New South Wales to Oxford Downs in Nebo. He married Josephine O’Malley, who worked as a governess on Marian Creek Station, West Hill. They had five children all born in Queensland, Thomas Maitland Hannan who died five days after birth, two other sons, Edward and Basil, and two daughters, Mora and Valda. Only the daughters married and only Valda had children, Bill, Ted, Mora Junior and Valda Junior.
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Ned was a successful cattle grazier, cane farmer and a community leader. He served on various sugar industry bodies such as the Council of Agriculture representing the Mackay district and provided regional representation of the industry at the Australian Sugar Producers Association. Ned was the Chairman of Directors in North Eton Mill and at one point the largest shareholder in that mill.
The Hannan family also held extensive grazing properties across central and northern Queensland. Many of these properties were held under the umbrella of the Hannan Pastoral Company.
In addition to their grazing interests, Ned held the licences of several hotels including, The Club Hotel Mirani, Wills Hotel Mackay, Marian Hotel, Marian, and the Pioneer Hotel, Mirani.
Ned was community minded and actively engaged in community organisations in the Mackay area. He served for over 40 years as a Councillor in the Pioneer and Mirani Shire Councils, was on the board of Mackay Harbour when the deepwater harbour was designed, constructed and opened in 1939, was on the committee of the Mackay Show Society from 1923 to 1933 serving as President in 1932 and 1933 as well as being a Trustee for many years and a regular exhibitor. He was credited with being instrumental in the extension of the Pioneer Valley railway line, from Pinnacle to Finch Hatton and a branch line from Pinnacle along McGregor’s Creek which enabled cane to be grown in the upper Pioneer Valley.
Ned had a long-standing interest in horse racing as an owner, steward, starter and supporter. He was a committee member of the Mirani Turf Club, Eton Race Club, the local Tattersalls Club and the Mackay Turf Club. In 1954 the 85-year-old Ned was appointed patron of the Mackay Turf Club. He was a strong supporter and participant at community events and in 1925 Ned donated the land on which the North Eton School of Arts was erected and served as a trustee.
Ned passed away in 1964 at the family home ‘Aberdeen’ which he established in 1910.
Mora Hannan born 1901 was the youngest daughter of Edward Basil Hannan and Josephine O’Malley. She spent most of her adult life living in Victoria, first studying at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and later on a dairy property with her husband Jack Strachan. She passed away in Mackay in 1997 leaving no heirs.
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Mora attended North Eton State School for her primary education before attending All Hallows Convent School in Brisbane for her secondary education.
Mora, like her siblings, was noted to be an accomplished rider, and later breeder and owner of racehorses. At the age of 13 she won the ribbon at the 1914 Mackay Show for best girl rider over 12 and under 16.
Throughout her schooling her singing earned her honours in her Trinity College of Music Examinations and she featured in principal roles in theatrical productions at All Hallows Convent School and soloist vocals at prominent events.
As a year eleven student in 1918, during wartime, Mora performed a vocal solo at the Anzac Day commemoration luncheon of Archbishop Duhig at St. Stephen’s School.
She was also one of very few students at All Hallows who sat for the public service examinations and she was a lifelong supporter of the school.
Upon completing her school studies in 1919 Mora enrolled in vocal studies at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Australia’s oldest tertiary music institution. In 1921 Mora achieved honours in her Australian Music Examination Board examinations.
In 1927 Mora married John Thomas (Jack) Strachan, a barrister and solicitor admitted in 1925. Together they established a Fresian stud in Bairnsdale, Victoria and later a dairy property they called Coolabah on the western edge of Warragul, Victoria. Mora and Jack went on to breed horses, selling, leasing and successfully racing them. After the death of Jack in 1972 Mora returned to Mackay and passed in 1997.
Brisbane’s 1918 Anzac Day commemorations, held while war continued on the other side of the world, were marked by a march through the city streets, religious services, and luncheons for returned soldiers and sailors. One such lunch, hosted by Archbishop Duhig at St Stephen’s School, featured entertainment by All Hallows’ girls, including a solo by Mora Hannan.
Mora was one of the very few pupils who sat for the public senior examinations – in 1919 only ten All Hallows’ pupils undertook the exams, nine of them boarders.
Mora was noted in the inaugural issue (1933) of the All Hallows’ school magazine as “a very loyal past pupil, and has a reputation for standing up for the honour of her Alma Mater whenever an occasion presents itself”. Several times she visited the school on her way north from Victoria to visit her family in Mackay. The School must have remained important to her, as a most years she sent telegrams of congratulations, and apology for being unable to attend the annual All Hallows’ Day festivities on 1 November, a day extremely important in the School calendar. She is also noted to have visited the School on a number of occasions over the years.
Valda Ann Mason (Val) born in 1936 was the daughter of Peter Mason and Valda Hannan, eldest daughter of Edward Basil Hannan and Josephine O’Malley. Val died on 28 February 2021, the last of the direct descendants of the Hannan Mason lineage.
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Val attended North Eton State School before following in her mother’s footsteps attending All Hallows Convent School in Brisbane for her secondary education. At the age of twelve Val was awarded a scholarship in recognition of her year seven public examination results which she used to further her musical studies.
During her secondary schooling Val was awarded honours in her Grade 4 Australian Music Examination Awards and in grade 11 she was appointed a boarder’s prefect. In her senior year she was appointed Boarding School Captain, served on the Sports Committee and achieved the Prize of Honour at All Hallows. Valda was one of 36 All Hallows girls that sat for the senior examination. Val, like her mother and aunt maintained her links to All Hallows after leaving school and in 1963 she served as President of the Mackay branch of the Past Pupils Association.
Val undertook tertiary studies at the University of Queensland initially studying English, Latin, History and French and later transferred her enrolment to Commerce. In 1961 she was awarded a provisional certificate of accounting, and she graduated in 1962 attaining a Bachelor of Commerce.
Her studies equipped her to assume responsibility for the financial management of the family properties which she did until her passing on 28 February 2021.
View some historical photos from the Hannan And Mason families archives
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