|
| The Mary River at
Maryborough |
Maryborough
Gracious and attractive city on the Mary River.
Maryborough calls itself 'Heritage City' and while it
doesn't compare in grandeur and graciousness to Queensland's
two premier 'Heritage Cities' - Rockhampton and Charters
Towers - it can claim to predate them both by some decades.
The city does have a large number of beautiful buildings and
the original Maryborough site - now nothing more than a
series of plaques set in lush tropical surroundings - is a
model of how to recreate imaginatively a bygone era.
Located 264 km north of Brisbane on the Mary River,
Maryborough is a city with an economy based on servicing the
surrounding sugar, grazing and timber industries and
catering for the hundreds of thousands of tourists who pass
through the area each year.
While the coast near Maryborough was chartered by Captain
James Cook and Matthew Flinders, it was really Andrew Petrie
who explored the present city site. In 1842 Petrie sailed up
the coast from Moreton Bay in a whaleboat to investigate the
economic potential of the harbour which lay behind Fraser
Island. He was specifically looking for substantial stands
of bunya trees. Petrie travelled nearly 80 km up the Mary
River and, although he did not find the bunya trees, one of
his crew, Henry Stuart Russell, declared after the journey
that he had 'seen what looks like a first-rate harbour, and
a river in which I yet hope, if I can but find fit country
on or near it, goodbye to drays, bullocks, Cunningham's Gap
and hells holes - hoorah! for immediate water carriage for
wool.'
It is remarkably fortuitous that both Russell and Petrie
have left very detailed accounts of the journey. Tom
Petrie's Reminiscences of Early Queensland by Constance C
Petrie was published in 1904, while Henry Stuart Russell's
Genesis of Queensland was published in 1889.
The hinterland was settled extensively in the 1840s and
in July 1847 the government surveyor, J. C. Burnett,
surveyed the river, declaring that it was 'an eligible
position for the establishment of a town as parties will no
doubt settle there as soon as there is prospect of trade'.
Governor Fitzroy decided to name the river Mary, after his
wife. Prior to that it had been known as Wide Bay to the
Europeans and Booie, Numabulla, Mooraboocoola or Moonaboola
to the local Aborigines.
In September 1847 George Furber, an enterprising Ipswich
businessman, arrived at Wide Bay and built a store, a house
for himself, and a jetty. By December that year he had
shipped out his first load of 65 bales of wool. The next
year Furber found himself in competition with Aldridge and
Palmer who had set up on the opposite bank of the river and
were offering easier access to the port. The story goes that
Furber was attacked and wounded by an Aborigine, forcing him
to ride south to Ipswich for medical attention. By the time
he returned a new settlement had been established on the
other side of the river. He had no choice but to join it.
The infant township acquired a life of its own. Within a
year over 1000 bales of wool were being shipped out and
hotels, stores and shops had sprung up.
The original Maryborough site, occupied until 1855, is
located between the Bruce Highway (at the Gympie end of
town) and the Mary River.
Maryborough was already a thriving township when it was
proclaimed a municipality in 1861. Two events in the 1860s
ensured that it would continue to grow and prosper. In 1865
the Maryborough Sugar Company was set up and, when gold was
discovered in 1867 at Gympie, Maryborough became one of the
major access points to the fields.
By 1869 the town's superb post office had been built and
for the next decade the commerce of the town was sufficient
to prompt the construction of some major buildings. In this
Maryborough was well ahead of Rockhampton and Charters
Towers both of which developed later in the nineteenth
century.
Things to see:
Old Maryborough
The original Maryborough site, occupied until 1855 and
located between the Bruce Highway (at the Gympie end of
town) and the Mary River, is really interesting.
Starting with a series of boards that describe the early
history of the town, it then has a pleasant heritage walk
through parklands beside the Mary River where the initial
settlement was established. Although none of the original
buildings remain, the walk is dotted with plaques which
recount the history of a long-departed house or shop. The
only unchanged features are the old Furber graves (most of
which have illegible inscriptions) and the gracious Baddow
House. The fifteen points of interest on the walk include
the Teamsters Paddock, the site of the Bush Inn, the site of
Furber's Inn, the landing, wool store, sawpits, tanning pits
and sawyers huts.
Baddow House was built in 1883 by Edgar Thomas Aldridge
who had followed Furber to the area and who established
trading and wool stores on the banks of the river as well as
the original Bush Inn (now the Royal Hotel).
Brennan & Geraghty's Store.
Located at 64 Lennox Street this large single-storey timber
store, which dates from 1871, is an excellent example of a
well-appointed store of the period. Its Victorian brick and
stucco facade, six-panel doors and shuttered shop windows
all make it an imposing structure. It was refurbished in
1990 and returned to its original condition.
The excellent Historical Homes of Wide Bay records: 'The
store was similar to a present day supermarket and many
articles apart from groceries were sold. At the close of
business each night wooden shutters were placed on the
windows. Produce in the rear section of the store was
transported to the front section on a flat-top trolley which
ran on wooden rails. A galvanised pipe speaking tube linked
the store to the Geraghty home on the northern side of the
store.'
The Royal Hotel
The Royal Hotel retains its Royal Crest, granting it the
status of a hotel under royal patronage. As its publicity
proudly declares: 'The Royal Hotel, famous for its
hospitality and service since 1856, has been host to
Governor Generals, State Governors, Prime Ministers,
Premiers, and many distinguished overseas visitors.'
The distinction of royal patronage was bestowed on the
hotel by Governor Bowen when he conducted his first official
function at the hotel.
In 1930 Governor Sir Leslie Orme Wilson wrote to King
George V questioning the hotel's status and its royal
patronage was confirmed. The Regal Room retains the Coat of
Arms, presented by Governor Bowen.
It is believed that one of Maryborough's earliest hotels,
the Bush Inn, which was built by Edward Aldridge, was
erected on this site in 1857. The new hotel, which dates
from 1902, is believed to incorporate parts of the old
hotel.
St Paul's Anglican Church and Tower
Located in Lennox Street, St Paul's Anglican Church became
the town's third Anglican church when it was completed in
1879. Perhaps of greater interest is the free standing
belltower, one of many gifts bestowed upon the town by
Edward Aldridge. Dedicated to his wife the tower was
completed in 1887.
City Hall
An impressive building dominating the lower end of the main
street the city was designed by Robin Dods in a distinctive
American Colonial style in 1908. You can just imagine a
pigtailed and youthful Debbie Reynolds walking down the
steps with her school books under her arm.
Within the City Hall is one of the city's true novelties,
the Time Gun, which is fired on Thursdays at 1.00 p.m. It
has been estimated that it can be heard as much as 30 km
away. The gun was a gift to the city from the Premier of
Queensland, John Douglas. It was found on the Torres Strait
island of Mobiag and was most likely used by the vessels of
the Dutch East India Company during the seventeenth century.
It was presented as a response to the criticism that the
town had no clock. The gun was first fired on 21 March 1878.
It was taken to the Brisbane Expo in 1988. Its history is
detailed in Heritage with a BANG!, available from the
Maryborough Tourist Information Office.
The Maryborough Post Office
The post office was constructed in 1869. It reflects the
affluence which came to Maryborough as a result of the
Gympie goldrush. It is a typical Victorian Classical Revival
building with arcaded verandahs and a clock tower which was
added in 1879. A gracious two-storey building it is an
important part of the streetscape near Queen's Park which
includes the customs house, courthouse and a number of
hotels.
Queens Park
Located on the banks of the Mary River this can make claims
to being one of the most delightful parks in Queensland. The
huge banyan tree, the elegant band rotunda, the city
fernery, the little statue and the views over the river all
make it an ideal place to relax.
|
| Looking from the Band
Rotunda across the Mary River |
The band rotunda is a very early example of
prefabrication. It was actually built in Glasgow and shipped
out in 1890. Originally it included the 'Fairy Fountain', an
ornate drinking fountain which has been relocated nearby.
The fountain was removed so that the floor could be raised
to provide audiences with better views of the performer.
Near the rotunda are some 13-cm gauge railway tracks. The
local Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association bring
their trains to these tracks on the last Sunday of each
month.
HM Customs House
Maryborough got its first customs officer in 1859. This
building was completed in 1901. It features a coat of arms
and is a fine example of the elaborate brickwork which was
commonplace during the period.
Customs House Hotel
Built in 1870 at the height of Maryborough's early
prosperity, the two-storey Customs House, with its fine
cast-iron lacework, is one of the many highlights on Wharf
Street.
The Courthouse
At one corner of Queen's Park stands an impressive group of
solid Victorian buildings, the highlight of which is the
Maryborough Courthouse and Lands Office, a huge two-storey
Victorian Classical Revival building which was built between
1875 and 1877 for £7345. It is, by any measure, a building
which reeks of wealth and confidence. A remarkable
construction in a period when the British Empire was at its
height and Queensland was developing rapidly.
The Maryborough Family Heritage Institute Building
This former Bank Of New South Wales is also located in Wharf
St. Erected in 1878 with iron columns and elaborate
cast-iron lacework it was one of Maryborough's three major
banks during the Gympie goldrush. Fortunes were deposited in
this bank by successful miners.
The Bond Store Museum
The old Bond Store at 101 Wharf Street has been converted
into a very fine heritage museum, tel: (07) 4123 1523. It is
open from10.45 a.m. to 12.00 p.m. and from 1.00 p.m. to 4.00
p.m. every weekday. Weekend visits can only be made by prior
appointment.
This most interesting collection of historic buildings
can best be seen by starting at Queens Park, heading down
Bargara St, past the post office, turning left into Wharf
Street and then taking another left into Macalister St and
proceeding back to the park, passing the courthouse and
customs house, being careful not to miss the Customs House
Hotel and the NPWS building on the far corners.
Visitors' Information Centre
Visitors wishing to make an even more comprehensive tour of
Maryborough's historic buildings should visit the
Maryborough Tourist Information Office. It is located on the
Bruce Highway, on the city side of the Lamington Bridge.
There you will find a number of excellent books on the
city's buildings. The Maryborough City Community Services
and Tourist Guide (available free) lists a total of 59
places around the city which are worth visiting. It details
a city walking tour as well as a driving tour.
One of the most interesting books on the city is
Historical Homes of Wide Bay, a series of sketches and
descriptions of predominantly domestic architecture. Old
Maryborough Site: An Historical Study by Tom Blake and
Richard Allom is a very detailed and academic survey of the
town's original site on the banks of the Mary River. A good
general overview of the city's history is available in A
History of Maryborough 1842-1976 which was produced by the
Maryborough, Wide Bay and Burnett Historical Society.
Australian Businesses for sale
Caravan Parks for sale
Motels for sale
Hotels for sale
Broadwalk Business Brokers
Businesses for Sale in Maryborough
: Buy or Sell Hotels, Motels, Caravan Parks, Bed & Breakfast,
Pubs, Wine Bars, Restaurants, Cafe, English Tea Rooms, Coffee Shops,
Deli, Catering Business, Pubs, Bars, Sandwich Bars, Pizza Delivery,
Bakeries, Hot Food Take-away, Fish & Chips, Petrol & Service Stations,
Australian Businesses for sale, Car Sales, Motor & Transport, Car/Van
Hires, Newsagents, Dry Cleaners, Salons, General Stores, Retail Stores,
Post Office, Printers, Convenience Stores, Clothes shop, Hair Dressers,
Beauty Salon, Fruit Markets, Butchers, Florist, Card & Gift shop, Sports
shop, Book Shops, Care Agency, Pharmacy, Tool-Hardware & DIY shops, Pet
Shops, Auto Mechanical, Auto Parts & Accessories,
Bakery Businesses for sale , Motel sales, caravan park sales, Hotel
sales, Business sales, Bar for sale, Juice Bar for sale,
Beauty Salon for sale, Bike and Motorcycle Businesses for sale ,
Australian Businesses for sale, Blinds and Shutters Businesses for sale , Boat Business for sale ,
Book Shop , Bread Run, Building and Construction , Butcher Shop,
Café Business for sale, Car Dealerships for sale, Car Rental
Business for sale , Car Yard, Cleaning Business for sale, Computer
Business for sale, Childcare Centre for sale, Confectionary
Business for sale, Convenience Store for sale, Deli Businesses for
sale , Distribution Businesses for sale , Earth Moving Businesses
for sale , Businesses for sale , Engineering Businesses for sale ,
Export/Import Businesses for sale , Fitness Centres for sale,
Florist for sale, Franchise Businesses for sale , Fruit and Veg
Shop for sale, Function Centre for sale, Funeral Parlour for sale,
Furniture Businesses for sale , Garden Equipment Businesses for
sale , General Store s for sale, Gift Shop for sale, Hairdressing
salons for sale , Hardware Businesses for sale , Hire Businesses for
sale , Businesses for sale, Motels for sale, Caravan Parks for sale,
hotels for sale, Ice Cream Businesses for sale , Juice Bar for sale, Laundrette ' s for sale, Lawn Mowing Businesses for sale , Magazine
Businesses for sale , Manufacturing Businesses for sale , Marine
Businesses for sale , Menswear Businesses for sale , Milk Run 's
for sale, Mixed Businesses for sale , Mobile Businesses for sale ,
News agency Businesses for sale , Pawnbroker Businesses for sale ,
Preschool for sale, Pest Control Businesses for sale ,Business for
sale Pet Shop, Plumbing Businesses for sale , Post Office for sale ,
Removalist Businesses for sale, Restaurants for sale, Roadhouses for
sale, Rubbish Removal Businesses for sale , Rural Supplies
Businesses for sale , Sales and Distribution Businesses for sale ,
Security Businesses for sale , Service Station for sale, Shoe Shop
for sale, Supermarkets for sale, Takeaway Businesses for sale ,
Taxi Businesses for sale , Transport Businesses for sale , Vending
Machine Businesses for sale , Wholesale Businesses for sale,
Wrecking Yard for sale in Maryborough.
Qld Towns
Agnes Water Airlie
Beach Allora
Alpha
Anakie
Aramac
Atherton
Ayr
Australina
businesses for sale
Babinda
Bamaga
Barcaldine
Bargara
Beaudesert Bedarra
Island
Beenleigh
Biggenden
Biloela
Birdsville
Blackall
Blackwater
Blair Athol Boonah
Boulia
Brampton
Island Brooweena
Buderim
Bundaberg
Burleigh
Heads Brisbane
Caboolture
Cairns
Caravan
parks for sale
Calliope
Caloundra
Camooweal
Cape
Tribulation
Capella Cardwell
Cecil
Plains Charleville
Charters
Towers Childers
Chillagoe
Chinchilla
Clermont
Cleveland
Clifton
Cloncurry Collinsville
Condamine
Cooktown
Coolangatta
Cooroy
Crows Nest Croydon
Cunnamulla
Daintree
Dalby
Daydream
Island Doomadgee
Double Island
Duaringa Dunk
Island Edmonton
Eidsvold
Emerald
Emu Park Esk
Eulo
Fitzroy Island Fraser
Island
Gatton Gayndah
Georgetown
Gin Gin
Gladstone Glass
House Mountains Goondiwindi
Gordonvale
Grandchester Great
Keppel Island Green
Island Greenmount
Gympie
Hamilton
Island Hayman
Island Herberton
Heron
Island Hervey
Bay Hinchinbrook
Island
Home Hill Hotels
for sale Howard
Hughenden
Ilfracombe Ingham
Inglewood
Injune
Innisfail
Ipswich
Irvinebank
Isisford
Jandowae
Jericho
Jimbour Jondaryan
Julia Creek Kajabbi
Karumba
Kenilworth Kidston
Kilcoy
Kilkivan
Killarney
Kingaroy
Kuranda
Lady
Elliot Island Laidley
Landsborough
Laura
Leyburn
Lindeman
Island Lizard
Island Logan
City Long
Island
Longreach Mackay
Magnetic
Island Malanda
Maleny
Marburg Mareeba
Marlborough
Maroochydore
Mary
Kathleen Maryborough
McKinlay
Miles
Millaa
Millaa
Millmerran
Mirani Mission
Beach Mitchell
Monto
Moonie
Moranbah
Moreton
Island Mossman
motels
for sale Mount
Garnet Mount
Isa Mount
Molloy Mount
Morgan Mount
Perry Mount
Surprise Moura
Mourilyan Mundubbera
Murgon
Muttaburra Nambour
Nanango Nerang
Noosa Normanton
Oakey
Orpheus Island Palmer
River Pittsworth
Port Douglas
Proserpine Proston
Quilpie
Rainbow
Beach
Ravenshoe
Ravenswood Redcliffe
Richmond Rockhampton
Roma
Rosewood
Sarina
Seventeen
Seventy Shute
Harbour South
Long Island
South Molle Island
Southport
Springsure St
George St
Lawrence Stanthorpe
Stradbroke
Island Surat
Surfers
Paradise Tambo
Tamborine
Mountain Taroom
Texas
Thargomindah
Theodore
Thursday Island Tin
Can Bay Tinaroo
Toowoomba Townsville
Tully
Undara
Wallangarra
Wandoan
Warwick
Weipa
Whitsunday
Winton Wondai
Yandina
Yeppoon Yuleba
Yungaburra
