Maryborough’s Town Hall Green

In the heart of Maryborough lies Chifley Place, a.k.a. the Town Hall Green, a meeting place, a speaking place, a junction for pedestrians and a small place packed with history and curiosities. It was also an execution site.

Magnificent fig trees spread welcome shade and mixed blessings over seats: noisy birds feast and poop on the people when fruit is in season, the roots play unseen havoc with pipes and foundations, and fungus has been fatal for the big tree by the bus shelter. It has been removed but will be replaced – the figs are so magnificent the city forgives their transgressions.

The plinth honouring former Prime Minister Ben Chifley was donated to the city in 1968 by Deputy Mayor Bill Elson-Green, an admirer of the Labor leader who guided Australia during World War II. Bill, however, did not admire a council decision to restrict public speaking at municipal meetings. The words ‘Freedom of Expression’ reflect his strong feelings. Many stirring speeches have been made beside the plinth.

Before the town hall was built in 1908, Maryborough’s first courthouse, police station and jail stood on the site. In 1877 what is now a pretty micropark was the site of the public hanging of two Pacific Islander labourers who had been convicted of rape. 

Maryborough’s grand past of ship building and engineering and fame as the ‘bicycle city’ is uniquely captured in a triptych etching by Monika Bayer showing the ‘Five O’Clock Whistle’. Walkers Ltd workers flowing on to the streets at the end of the day created a two-wheeled wave that needed traffic cop control.

On the other side of the green are etchings from the tales of Mary Poppins, designed as art rubbings for children on plinths. Interesting mosaics are on the footpath at the bottom of the ramp.