Contact Details

Mackay Office

Amiet House
55 Gordon Street
Mackay QLD 4740
Ph: (07) 4944 0333
Fax: (07) 4957 3346
Freecall: 1800 689 303
mac@macamiet.com.au

Proserpine Office

18A Chapman Street
Proserpine QLD 4800
Ph: (07) 4945 2388
Fax: (07) 4945 2664
Freecall: 1800 689 303
mac@macamiet.com.au

Whitsunday Office

Suite 4
Whitsundays Business Centre
230 Shute Harbour Road
Cannonvale QLD 4802
Ph: (07) 4948 4500
Fax: (07) 4948 0699
Freecall: 1800 670 761
whitsundays@macamiet.com.au

On July 1st 1895, Fred C. MacNish, formerly Managing Clerk with a Townsville firm, set up his own legal practice in Mackay.

Those first premises were shared with the Australian Stock Bank in Wood Street and the practice named Fred C MacNish. Today, it's a council laneway.

In 1904, Fred MacNish was joined by Vince Macrossan.

Vince Macrossan came from one of the most respected legal families in Queensland. He had 2 brothers, Hugh and Neale who were Chief Justices of Queensland. His son John Murtagh Macrossan was Chief Justice of Queensland until his recent retirement.

A short time later, F. C. MacNish & V. E. J. Macrossan moved into new premises on the site of what was, until recently. the Capitol Cafe in Sydney Street. 1906, Fred MacNish left the firm.

In June 1919, the Peace Treaty was signed at Versailles and many young Australians began returning home. One of them, Bill Amiet, joined Vince Macrossan and before long the company name was changed to what it is today, Macrossan & Amiet.

Bill Amiet was a man of many talents. A respected scholar, poet, linguist and astronomer, he served as an intelligence officer in both wars. He is remembered fondly by local ethnic groups for his support during the dark days of World War II when the Italian community, especially, was under tremendous pressure.

The W. A. Amiet Library at the James Cook University (Mackay) is named after him and Macrossan and Amiet has, over the years, contributed substantially to those buildings.

Following Bill Amiet's death in 1959, the late Peter Moore joined Macrossan & Amiet as a partner. He resigned from the firm on March 31st 1977.

Vince Macrossan (after whom Macrossan Street is named) left the partnership in the early 20s, and relocated to Brisbane. Bill Amiet's brother John Stanley Amiet joined the firm. However, he contracted Rheumatoid Arthritis and ceased active practice in 1929.

Macrossan and Amiet has always been proud of the loyalty of its staff, none more so than Mrs Gladys Ruddell who commenced working with Bill Amiet in 1921. When she died in 1976, Mrs Ruddell was still a member of Macrossan and Amiet.

Other long-term employees included the late Jack Crowley, a Managing Clerk who started with the firm in the 1920s and left in 1969. In more recent times, the late Colin Grant left Macrossan & Amiet in 1987 after over 50 years of service. A highly respected local identity, Colin was Secretary of the Mackay Rugby League for many years.

During the 20s, Macrossan and Amiet moved premises from the Capitol Cafe site in Sydney Street to new offices above Carrolls Newsagency in Victoria Street.

In 1943, one of Bill Amiet's nephews, John Carroll, completed his schooling at St. Patrick's College Mackay and was accepted as an articled clerk at Macrossan & Amiet. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1948 and became a partner in 1949, continuing in that role until March 31st 1992. The benefit of John Carroll's experience was not lost however as he was retained as a consultant until his death on February 19th, 2000.

It was in the year 1960 a young Mackay man named Tony Ghusn commenced working at Macrossan and Amiet as an articled clerk. He'd done his schooling at St.Patricks College Mackay and St Brendan's College Yeppoon. Initially employed as an articled clerk, Tony Ghusn became a solicitor on July 1st 1965, a partner on July 1st 1969 and is now Senior Partner at Macrossan and Amiet.

In 1960, Macrossan and Amiet employed a Townsville Solicitor, Michael White and he became a partner on the 14th February 1966 (Decimal Currency Day). Mr White continued with the practice until 1985 when he resigned to go to Brisbane to work as an Executive Director of the Queensland Law Society Inc. and is now the Registrar of the Magistrates Court.

In 1970, Jack Kidd was transferred to Mackay to handle the Commonwealth Bank's involvement in the development of the enormous coal export facility at Hay Point to the south of Mackay.

When an opportunity to enter the legal profession came up through fellow Apexian Tony Ghusn, Jack took it and entered into Articles at Macrossan and Amiet on July 1st 1974. He became a partner in the firm in July 1981. Jack left the partnership to pursue other interests in 1998.

On October 31st 1972, Macrossan and Amiet's service to the Mackay district took a giant leap forward with the opening of new premises at 12 Gregory Street.

Tony Ghusn remembers the date well - he'd had a bet the office wouldn't be open before November 1st and all staff worked virtually non-stop over the weekend but took a break on Saturday the 29th to listen to Gunsynd win the Cox Plate!

In 1975, Macrossan & Amiet expanded its service to the area by making regular visits to the rapidly expanding Proserpine/Whitsundays district. That service continues with John Formosa in the Proserpine office on Tuesdays and Darren Sekac on Thursdays.

In 1976, Mr John Carroll's son, Patrick returned home from 4 years at university to take up a position as an articled clerk at Macrossan & Amiet. Very much a local, Pat Carroll was educated at St.Patrick's College Mackay. He became a partner in the firm on July 1st 1979.

In 1977, Peter Moore resigned from the firm and was replaced by a Brisbane solicitor, Gene Paterson. A Western Queenslander, Gene had attended St. Brendan's College at Yeppoon before going to university in Brisbane. He was then accepted by Brisbane solicitors Power and Power as an articled clerk and went on to become a practicing solicitor with that firm.

Before going overseas for a holiday in 1977, Gene came to Mackay to visit old school friends. He was offered a position at Macrossan & Amiet and has been with the firm ever since. He became a partner on the same day as Pat Carroll, July 1st 1979 - and still hasn't taken that overseas holiday. On July 31st, 2000, Gene Patterson became Managing Partner at Macrossan and Amiet.

1979 was the year John Formosa joined Macrossan & Amiet as an articled clerk. John studied externally with Q.I.T. to obtain his law degree and was admitted as a solicitor in February 1985. He became a partner at Macrossan & Amiet on July 1st 1989.

No relation to the other Carrolls in the company, Damian Carroll joined Macrossan and Amiet as an employed solicitor in September 1985. He gained his degree at the Queensland Institute of Technology (now Queensland University of Technology) and was articled with two Brisbane firms before becoming a solicitor in December 1984. Damian Carroll successfully applied for a position advertised at Macrossan & Amiet following the resignation of Mr Michael White and became a partner in the firm on the same day as John Formosa - July 1st 1989.

Darren Sekac commenced employment with the firm on 6th July, 1992, after relocating from Melbourne, where he had completed his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne. Darren became a Partner of the firm on 1st July, 1998. In late 1998 he was accredited by the Queensland Law Society as Specalist in Personal Injuries Law.

On 1st July 2002 David O'Connell joined the firm as a partner. David has been a solicitor since 1991 and with Macrossan & Amiet since 1994. David's practical experience is enhanced by his university studies which in addition to his law degree, include a Graduate Diploma of Taxation Law and Master of Business Administration.

On 1 August 2004 the firm expanded by acquiring Andrew Telford's Airlie Beach based practice, Telford Lawyers. Andrew Telford joined the firm as a partner and currently manages the Airlie Beach office. Andrew has been a solicitor since 1991 after gaining his Bachelor of Law Degree.

Stuart Naylor also became a partner of the firm on 1 August 2004. Stuart commenced with Macrossan & Amiet in 1996 following completion of a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law Degree at the James Cook University.

Contact Details

Mackay Office

Proserpine Office

Whitsunday Office

On July 1st 1895, Fred C. MacNish, formerly Managing Clerk with a Townsville firm, set up his own legal practice in Mackay.

Solicitors

Gene Paterson

Pat Carroll

Damian Carroll

John Formosa

Darren Sekac

David O'Connell

Stuart Naylor

Andrew Telford

Tony Ghusn

Erin Sellentin

Vince Campbell

Mark Jenvey

Greg Smart

Steven Hayles

Catherine Manderson

Kylie Davies

Tanya Whalley

Sarah Robertson

Stephen Willis

Alison Woodward

Paul Stasuik