Top 15 Activities and Attractions in Maryborough, Australia

Summary:

Rewind to the latter part of the 19th century, and Maryborough served as Queensland’s primary port, facilitating the trade of commodities such as timber, wool, meat, alcohol, tobacco, and even opium.

More than 20,000 individuals from various countries initiated their new lives in this significant location.

The city proudly showcases its historical heritage, particularly evident in the preserved riverside architecture at the Portside Heritage Gateway, offering complimentary tours of its historic streets six days a week.

Additionally, it was here, in 1899, that P.L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, was born.

Her birthplace, situated in a former bank building, has been transformed into a museum reflecting the enchanting spirit associated with this famous nanny.

1. Queens Park

As one of many heritage-listed locations in Maryborough, the city’s primary park was established in the late 19th century.

Many of the mature trees found in Queens Park date back to that era, alongside the charming rotunda and the nearby Melville fountain.

Noteworthy features include the ornate iron entrance gates, a war memorial, a double-domed fernery, a lily pond, and a diverse array of individual gardens.

The impressive Cocos Palm Avenue, which runs north to south through the park, is one of the larger plantings.

Queens Park offers a serene environment for leisurely walks, with scenic views of the Mary River and the historic wharves of Maryborough.

2. Gallipoli to Armistice Military Trail

To commemorate the centenary of the Armistice, a remarkable multisensory Anzac memorial was inaugurated in Queens Park in 2018. Designed by Brisbane-based architectural firm Brandi Projects, this installation integrates audio elements, museum-style interpretive panels, architectural features, and landscaping to illustrate the impact of the Great War on Australia and its citizens.

The trail features a statue of Duncan Chapman, a Maryborough-born soldier recognized as the first individual to land at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. The trail extends across the continent, connecting Gallipoli to the Western Front, facilitated by an interactive map, sensor-driven audio stations, QR codes, multimedia story boxes, and an embedded soil sample from Gallipoli.

3. Mary Poppins Story Bank Museum

Pamela Lyndon Travers (1899-1996), the esteemed author of the Mary Poppins series, was born in the heart of Maryborough at the historic Australian Joint Stock Bank building.

Constructed in 1882, this notable Neoclassical edifice has been transformed into a unique museum.

Travers’ birthplace, located in an upstairs bedroom, features extensive information regarding her life, career, family, and the inspirations behind her literary contributions.

Visitors can engage with scenarios and characters from her Mary Poppins tales and explore a wealth of photographs and documents from the Travers estate.

The Story Bank Museum also endeavors to encourage future authors through imaginative and whimsical activities reminiscent of Mary Poppins.

4. Mary Poppins Statue

Situated in front of the museum at the intersection of Kent and Richmond Streets, the statue serves as a heartfelt tribute to P.L. Travers, a native of Maryborough, and is a favored photo opportunity in the central business district and Portside Heritage Gateway.

This bronze statue was unveiled in 2005 following a community fundraising initiative and generous contributions.

The stuccoed wall of the Story Bank behind offers a historically appropriate backdrop for photographs.

Mary Poppins is additionally honored with a festival in and around Queens Park during the first weekend in July, featuring family-friendly activities, street theater, storytelling, kite displays, a costumed parade, and much more.

5. Guided Maryborough Heritage Walk

A wonderful method to familiarize oneself with Maryborough and its heritage is by joining a costumed guide on this complimentary tour.

Typically lasting two hours, the heritage walk departs from the City Hall at 09:00, Monday through Saturday.

Your guide will lead you through a historical narrative of Maryborough when it thrived as a bustling port, a location where approximately 22,000 free settlers first arrived on Australian soil.

6. Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary

Located just outside the city, off the Maryborough – Biggenden Road, is a not-for-profit wildlife sanctuary dedicated to providing a humane environment for a diverse range of native Australian species.

Run by volunteers, this sanctuary enables visitors to interact safely with various animals.

You have the opportunity to feed and touch kangaroos and wallabies, get close to dingoes, feel the skin of a blue-tongued lizard, and, for the adventurous, allow a black-headed python to wrap around your neck.

The Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary also boasts an abundance of birdlife, including emus and playful cockatoos.

Feeding times for the kangaroos, wallabies, and emus occur at 14:00.

7. Brennan & Geraghtys Store Museum

Currently managed by the National Trust of Queensland, this extensive grocery store dates back to 1864, operating under a single family from 1871 to 1972.

The National Trust assumed care in 1975, ensuring the preservation of the building and its adjoining cottage as a significant piece of commercial heritage.

What sets the store apart is that the final owner, George Geraghty, retained old inventory and store records.

By that time, many of these items were no longer produced, with some dating back to the late 1890s.

Visitors can explore the elegant facade and verandah, alongside shelves stocked with products and containers from a bygone era, walls adorned with vintage signage, and wooden boxes in the back featuring their original stamps.

8. Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum

This museum, located in a historic warehouse within Maryborough’s Portside Heritage Gateway, houses over 10,000 pieces of military and colonial memorabilia, with a particular emphasis on military medals.

Among its key exhibits is the largest collection of Victoria Crosses found in any private museum, which includes the only VC from the Gallipoli campaign displayed outside the Australian War Memorial.

Additionally, it features the only Cross of Valour on public display in Australia, awarded to Senior Constable Timothy Britten for his actions during the 2002 Bali Bombings.

9. Bond Store Museum

As part of the Portside Heritage Gateway, the historically significant Bond Store on Wharf Street dates back to 1863. Many original features remain, including earthen floors, barrel rails, and handmade bricks from the period.

The Bond Store was utilized by Her Majesty’s Customs Service, where taxable goods such as rum, spirits, wine, tobacco, and even opium were stored. Today, this restored facility displays artifacts from Maryborough’s era as an inland port alongside informative boards detailing various aspects of local history.

Furthermore, the Bond Store serves as a venue for purchasing local delicacies, including macadamia nuts, olives, preserves, and a selection of alcoholic beverages.

10. Customs House Interpretive Centre

Across the road stands Customs House, another iconic and heritage-listed colonial structure.

Designed by the prolific architect John Smith Murdoch and completed in 1899, the complex includes two buildings: the original customs house and its associated residence.

Visitors can enter daily to admire the historical architecture and explore the narrative of immigration in Maryborough.

There are captivating profiles of individuals who journeyed across the globe for new beginnings, as well as insights into the families present at the town’s inception.

11. Mary Ann Steam Locomotive

During your visit to the Maryborough Heritage City Markets or on the last Sunday of each month, you can witness a steam locomotive operating in the city center alongside the Mary River.

This is the Mary Ann, a replica of the first steam engine constructed in Queensland at John Walker and Co’s Union Foundry.

The modern replica operates along tracks originally laid in the 19th century for the foundry and Maryborough’s wharves.

Rides are available between 09:00 and 12:30, and visitors can also stop by the adjoining Whistle Stop Museum, which showcases numerous artifacts from Australia’s railway golden age, including tools, lanterns, telegraphs, clothing, and even the original whistle from the Walker foundry.

12. Anzac Park

This serene urban park, centered on Ululah Lagoon, has a rich history dating back to before European settlement in Maryborough.

This area has long been a venue for Aboriginal gatherings; however, in the mid-19th century, the lagoon was excavated to serve as Maryborough’s first water supply.

The initial land sales for the town were also conducted at this site in 1852. Today, a walking and cycling trail encircles the lagoon, and the park is equipped with numerous amenities.

Facilities include a skate park, a children’s playground featuring a fort and flying fox, ample barbecue areas, and the 18-hole Maryborough Golf Club located on the western side of the lagoon.

13. Maryborough City Hall

Perhaps the most prominent of Maryborough’s numerous heritage buildings is the City Hall, easily identifiable by its tower and portico at the intersection of Kent and Lennox Streets.

Completed in 1908 and constructed from local Meredith bricks, this building showcases American Colonial architectural style, designed by the Brisbane firm Hall and Dods and features a grand auditorium.

The bulk of the clock tower was a subsequent addition, completed in 1934. Meanwhile, the auditorium can accommodate 800 guests and is adorned with rich ornamentation on the proscenium arch and Corinthian columns framing it.

The City Hall houses Maryborough’s Visitor Information Centre, where inquiries about local tours can be made.

Every Thursday at 13:00, the Time Cannon is fired on the City Hall Green by the Town Crier and Mary Heritage.

14. Original Maryborough Town Site

Maryborough is one of the few locations where one can accurately identify the site of the initial settlement.

Currently a tranquil archaeological park, the original location is situated on the southern bank of the Mary River, approximately four kilometers northwest of the central business district.

Previously referred to as Wide Bay Village, this site was occupied from 1848 to 1855 before being vacated for a deeper port further downstream.

The 30-hectare creekside area features graves of pioneers, walking trails, interpretive signage, picnic tables, barbecue facilities, and restroom amenities.

15. Maryborough Heritage City Markets

Thursdays are an excellent time to visit Maryborough when the city center transforms into a vibrant marketplace, dotted with stalls and various activities celebrating the city’s rich historical heritage.

The market operates along Adelaide and Ellena Streets from 08:00 to 13:30, accompanied by live music and entertainment, offering a wide range of goods from fresh produce to handmade crafts, jewelry, fashion, and an array of hot food options.

Visitors will likely encounter the Town Crier and Mary Heritage during their time in town, and as previously noted, they will be discharging the Time Cannon at 13:00.