City Hall Poignant Memorial Lawn

Nestled beside the stately Maryborough City Hall on Lennox Street, the Memorial Lawn offers a space where history, remembrance, and reflection converge.

The heart of this poignant place is the Bauer and Wiles Memorial Fountain, dedicated to the heroic nurses who sacrificed their lives fighting the Black Death (Pneumonic Plague). This serene fountain is more than a beautiful landmark; it’s a tribute to selflessness and courage that shaped Maryborough’s history.

In 1905, Maryborough, Queensland, experienced an outbreak of pneumonic plague, also known as the “Black Death”. This outbreak was particularly significant as it was Australia’s only recorded instance of primary pneumonic plague. 

The outbreak resulted in eight deaths, including two nurses, Cecilia Bauer and Rose Wiles, who bravely volunteered to care for the sick despite the high risk of infection. Their names appear on the memorial fountain.

Seven children from a neglected family caught the deadly plague, believed to have come from sacking discarded by a ship berthed at the wharf. Five of the children died, as did a kindly neighbour who cared for them.

Maryborough’s Hospital Museum exhibit tells of another nurse who survived after nursing the dying children.

Nearby, a sombre memorial stone stands in quiet homage to those lost in Queensland’s most tragic road disaster—the 1994 Boondall bus crash. The names of 11 Maryborough women and a young boy are etched into the stone, ensuring their stories remain part of the city’s collective memory.

The reflective mood of the lawn makes it an apt setting for a quiet game on the giant outdoor chess. The oversized pieces, available at the Visitor Information Centre (open seven days a week), add a whimsical touch to the thoughtful space. Strategise your moves on the expansive lawn, surrounded by stories of resilience and community.