10 things to do in Maryborough, what to see — trip guide

Maryborough is most well known for its Mary Poppins traffic signals and the Story Bank Museum. The town is a treasure trove for the dedicated heritage buffs who visit the town in large numbers to savour a nineteent century streetscape. Military fans are also not disappointed with several museums focused on Australia’s military past. Yet Maryborough has much more to offer visitors and there is plenty for kids to do as well.

Foodies rejoice, Food and Wine Festival – Relish Fraser Coast – Maryborough is a Queensland favourite with Maryborough’s heritage streets and riverside parks the setting for Relish Food & Wine Festival. Celebrity chefs rub elbows with artisan food producers. There are gourmet tastings and cooking workshops accompanied by live music and street art.

The quaint custom of every Thursday firing the daily canon signifying 1.00pm is a great reminder of Maryborough’s past and it’s a signal for the close of the city market. The gun used is a much smaller replica. The custom started before the city had a town clock. From 8am to 1pm in Adelaide and Ellena Streets are transformed into a version of a nineteenth century street fair. Stroll past over 120 stalls with fresh produce and artisan wares. Original hand-made craft, homemade treats, artwork, jewellery, clothes, accessories, natural beauty products and quirky characters. There are characters in historical dress including a Town Crier with a very large crier’s bell creating a one of kind atmosphere.

In a corner of Neptune and Victory Streets is Fay Smith Wetlands. The park is approximately 10ha and comprises a remnant wetland, woodland of red bloodwood, swamp mahogany, acacias and forest red gum. The park was dedicated to Fay Smith, a local birdwatcher and conservationist. A quiet place to relax in with bird song and think about the importance of people such as Fay who remind all of us about the environment. Check travel pack information for Fay Smith wetland brochure.

Picnic in Queens Park a heritage-listed botanic garden (1860). Mature trees, a fernery, waterpool and lily pond make a quiet retreat from the bustle of the town. Queens Park Band Rotunda (1890) is a National Trust building. On the last Sunday of the month Maryborough’s Brass Band, in full regalia entertain visitors to the park. And if you are lucky the 13 cm gauge model railway chuggs into life as part of the weekend fun. Don’t miss the Maryborough War Memorial. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992. The memorial is marked by a sculpture of Lieutenant Duncan Chapman – the first Australian ashore at Gallipoli. A walk through the memorial is filled with audio and visual stories of the many men and women from Maryborough who served at war for Australia.

Maryborough is the closest town to Poona National Park. The park consists of  coastal plains and two small islands in the Great Sandy Strait. These areas provide an ideal habitat for a variety of shorebirds including threatened eastern curlew and endangered little tern.Poona National Park | Parks and forests | Department of Environment and Science is rarely visited and only accessible by 4WD. A fascinating slice of original vegetation only 6km from the centre of town. The park’s brochure describes Kalah Creek is accessible by four-wheel-drive off Boonaroo Road or by boat from the Maaroom boat ramp. The park is a great place for low impact, nature-based activities such as photography and birdwatching. See spectacular wildflower displays in spring and summer. There are no facilities and camping is not permitted.Explore on foot or by four-wheel-drive only. The best time to visit is during early Spring when the wallum wildflowers are in full bloom.

ANZAC park and Ululah lagoon once a place for aboriginal corrooborees the public space is a great place for visitors with children who have energy to spare. The park has an interesting backstory as the location for the first land sales for the new town. Horse powered scoops dredged the lagoon to create Maryborough’s first water supply in 1859. There is a walk and cycle trail with regular wildlife sightings from the lagoon inhabitants. The children’s fort, flying fox and slides will give young visitors plenty of scope to explore and burn off excess energy.

Heritage Maryborough is worth a day’s exploration from over 20 historic sites and counting to observe, a number of interesting museums such as Story Bank, Mary Poppins fame honouring the author P.L. Travers. For more information check out Maryborough Heritage Trail 10 places to visit.

Join the free guided city walk that departs from the Maryborough Visitor Information Centre daily, you will certainly pass Cherry Tree Lane on Richmond Street locating the statue of Mary Poppins beside the 136-year-old bank building where the author, Pamela Lyndon Travers was born in 1889. Your city guide will be dressed in heritage costume to add to the spirit of the walk.

Think about how health professionals respond to pandemics and infectious diseases while viewing the Bauer & Wiles Memorial Fountain acknowledging the vital nursing role of Cecilia Bauer and Rose Wiles, two local nurses who courageously volunteered to care for victims of Australia’s only outbreak of the pneumonic plague in 1905. The fountain, situated to the Lennox Street side of City Hall, Both nurses contracted the deadly disease and died.

Maryborough street art mural trail. The large outdoor art displays tell the story of the story using paint and humour with antidotes from the past. There are over 30 murals and installations with more on the way. The art trail begins at the Visitor Information Centre where you can collect an up to date art trail map, learn about the baking of the historic Peace Cake and how the trail began. The trail is 2km with helpful signs indicating toilets and cafes. The trail covers 10 city blocks.

The journey is worth it.