50 FREE THINGS TO DO
Looking to explore the heritage city?
We’ve compiled the top 50 list of free things to see and do in Maryborough. From the fun and quirky to the celebration and recognition of our military history. There’s something for everyone to enjoy in Maryborough, see if you can tick off the whole list!
City Hall Quarter
01
Maryborough City Heart Walking Tour
Discover history and heritage on foot
Take a leisurely walking tour of Maryborough’s historic inner city. Departing from City Hall at 9 am on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, it’s an easy way to soak in the stories around the streets of charm and curiosities.
02
Maryborough’s Clock and Bell Towers
The charming timeless soundtrack to the city
Admire the picturesque City Hall, home to many treasures of craftsmanship and listen for the clock tower Westminster chime. The melody can be heard every 15 minutes from the top of the rich red-brick example of classical Southern American colonial style.
03
The World Famous Cistern Chapel
The quirkiest public toilets you’ll ever visit!
Marvel at the Cistern Chapel, home to public toilets that have left more than 300,000 visitors flush with excitement. It’s an odd public convenience reimagined in the most creative way.
04
City Hall Memorial Lawn
Honour, memory and a game of Chess
Explore the Memorial Lawn beside Maryborough City Hall, where tributes include a fountain honouring nurses lost to the Black Death and a stone commemorating victims of Queensland’s Boondall bus crash. The reflective mood of the lawn is a fitting setting to play chess with oversized pieces from the Visitor Information Centre, open seven days a week inside City Hall.
05
Town Hall Green
A peaceful park with a historical tribute
Relax at the picturesque Town Hall Green, featuring a plinth honouring wartime Prime Minister Ben Chifley. This shady spot is steeped in history and a connection to the city’s past.
06
Historic Time Cannon
Keeping time loud and clear
Discover the story of the time cannon outside City Hall. Found on Marbiak Island in the Torres Strait, this Dutch East Indies relic arrived in 1878 to replace the impractical time ball. Watch its working replica fired by the Town Crier on Market Days – a blast from the past.
07
Historical Society Museum
Explore local stories and treasures
Explore the fascinating collection of historic exhibits at the Maryborough Wide Bay and Burnett Historical Society Museum, located in the School of Arts on Kent Street. Unearth Fraser Coast’s past with one-of-a-kind exhibits.
08
Kent Street Green Space
Maryborough’s evolving canvas
Imagine the potential of Kent Street Green Space, a controversial area offering stunning views of City Hall. With its history of debate and heritage-listed baby clinic, it’s a site full of intrigue and possibilities.
09
St Mary's Church
A gothic gem with a rooster tale to tell
Look up to spot the rooster crowing a tribute to a French priest on St Mary’s Catholic Church roof. Nearby, the Lourdes grotto offers a serene space with its own historical charm.
10
Inspector of Nuisances
Meet Maryborough’s mischievous pigs
Smile at the whimsical statues of pigs and a goat and absorb to the amusing story of Maryborough’s “Inspector of Nuisances.” Then look across the street at a unique caricature shop.
11
A Library and Bookshop
More than just books
Visit the Maryborough Library for free sessions in cyber security in Bazaar Street. It’s a learning hub with something for everyone. Around the corner in Ellena Street is a magical experience with more than 15,000 books and more at Number 17.
12
Ellena Street Sculpture
Where art meets industry
Maryborough’s proud industrial history is threaded into the fascinating sculpture on Ellena Street. The monument sheltering cute frogs highlights the innovative industries that helped shape the town’s history and identity.
13
St Paul's Church & Memorial Hall
Warriors Chapel in a magnificent church
An architectural gem with many treasures inside, St Paul’s Anglican Church soars in the heart of Maryborough at the centre of a postcard image.
14
St Paul’s Bell Tower Love Story
Echoes of love: the story of the bell tower
It’s an impresive sight and the world’s greatest love story told through bells. The St Paul’s Church rare bell set and tower, built from more bricks than the church, were donated by Edgar Aldridge in memory of his beloved, saintly Maria. Read the sorrowful inscription honouring her enduring legacy.
15
Curious Little Station & Bomb Shelter
An impressive history, sitting in limbo
Maryborough’s railway station is heritage-listed but awaiting its fate, a poignant relic beside an equally intriguing bomb shelter.
16
Fire Station Art Deco Front, Foyer of Fascination
Museum tells of old firefighting days
Behind the art deco façade of the Maryborough Fire Station is a fascinating collection of equipment used by the cities firies for almost 140 years. It’s open to the public and if you are lucky you might get to see the famous speedy exit chute.
Streets of Charm
17
Architecture With Attitude
Discover Australia’s flamboyant heritage gems
Wander through the picturesque streets lined with a rare collection of early commercial architecture in Australia, some created by architects as flamboyant as their creations.
18
Mary Poppins says "Go" and "Whoa"
Unique pedestrian lights in Maryborough
Tourists love Mary Poppins pedestrian lights. A red light with Mary’s brolly down means don’t go; when she reckons it’s safe to cross she turns green and puts her brolly up.
19
39 Masterpieces, One Trail
Explore Maryborough’s arty streetscape
Discover Maryborough’s award-winning Mural Trail, celebrated with a Silver Award in the 2022 Grey Nomads Street Art Awards. This vibrant collection of 39 murals captures the city’s grand and colourful past, transforming ordinary walls into extraordinary stories.
20
Mini Sculptures, Big Tales
Maryborough’s Heritage Story Trail
Follow Maryborough’s heritage story trail, sprinkled with mini sculptures that capture the town’s past. Each piece reflects a bygone era, with some sharing audio tales (when functioning).
21
It’s All About Mary
Make like Mary in the photo op
Take a selfie at the famous statue, check out the link leather Mary Book, grasp the Gladstone bag and the brolly, kick up your heels, and make like Mary in the 3D photo opportunity nestled in the charming Mary Garden on Richmond Street.
22
Maryborough Art Gallery Trail
Explore Maryborough’s creative hub
Explore four art galleries and a gallery shop in the heart of a city that nurtures art, showcasing and selling works from talented local artists. You can admire, buy original works or join the many workshops held regularly.
24
Your Treasure Hunt Awaits
Maryborough’s second-hand secrets
Hunt for hidden gems or simply browse for free in Maryborough’s 12 op shops and three antique stores. From vintage treasures to quirky finds, there’s something to charm every treasure-seeker or curious browser.
25
Picturesque historic school precinct
Tells a tale of three schools
Maryborough State High School takes pride in its two magnificent buildings that once separated the boys from the girls. A school museum is in the heritage halls. Beside it, the primary school was built for immigrants, not kids.
26
Carvings, Culture, MV Ella
The Brolga Theatre awaits
Discover a blend of artistry, architecture and history outside the Brolga Theatre. Admire the intricately carved Rotary Peace Pole celebrating native animals and cultural legends, the graceful brolga sculpture, explore the final resting place of a treasured vessel from Maryborough’s maritime past. Scenic river views and interior features add to the experience.
27
City of Light to discover after dark
Maryborough’s fascinating nighttime display
Explore Maryborough’s fascinating nighttime display. City Hall, Richmond Street, and Wharf Street come alive with stunning lighting, while Mary Poppins takes flight across the rooftops as darkness falls.
Queen's Park
28
Gallipoli to Armistice
Award-winning memorial
Uncover the extraordinary story of the first Anzacs at the award-winning Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial Walk in Queen’s Park, honoured as Australia’s best monument or memorial, winning the Gold Award at the 2020 Australian Street Art Awards. This eight-metre-high sculptured memorial invites you to walk alongside history, from the ridges of Gallipoli to the Western Front.
29
Discover the African Sausage Tree
A natural wonder with a twist
Spot the African sausage tree near the cenotaph in Queen’s Park. Its unusual fruit, weighing up to 10 kilograms, is a delight to look at—but not to taste… unless you’re a hippo.
30
Explore the Cenotaph & Memorial Gates
Home to Australia’s rare tribute to Anzac nurses
Beneath the Winged Victory of Nike atop the superb cenotaph in Queen’s Park, find a unique statue commemorating the selfless Anzac nurses who served during World War I.
31
Chippie IV
The legacy of Chippie and Tubby
Meet Chippie IV, a statue of a small dog at Queen’s Park’s entrance, honouring Rev. Tubby Clayton, who comforted British monarchs and soldiers. Also see his image in the mural at the military museum or visit All Hallows Church in London, where the Reverend is immortalised with Chippie at his feet.
32
Iconic Indian Banyan Tree
Play, dream, andcreate music beneath the canopy
Play hide and seek under the roots of the sprawling rare Indian banyan tree in Queen’s Park. Its shady branches also cover musical instruments for creating your own symphony.
33
Butchulla Warriors Monument
A powerful tribute to Australia’s first defenders
Pause to honour the Butchulla Warriors, the original defenders of this land. This striking Queen’s Park monument commemorates the lives of those who fought for their country during early invasions.
34
Magical Fairy Fountain
A legacy cast in iron and whimsy
Maryborough’s ornate Fairy Fountain displayed at the 1988 Glasgow Exposition. This artistic treasure, gifted to the city, still enchants visitors today.
35
Historic Band Rotunda
A heritage stage in Queen’s Park
Step into Maryborough’s Queen’s Park and admire the historic band rotunda, brought from the 1888 Glasgow Exhibition. First intended to shelter the Fairy Fountain, it soon found new life as the park’s dedicated stage, becoming a beloved Victorian landmark for music, gatherings and community celebrations.
36
Miniature and Regular Train Tracks
A Unique Queen’s Park Highlight
Big rails through the park and tiny train tracks near the banyan tree make Queen’s Park unique. Watch out on Sunday mornings and especially on the last Sunday of the month when the original Mary Ann and working scale models of steam locomotives puff along, delighting big and little kids with rides.
37
Mary River’s Historic Guns
Guardians Since the 1800s
Three river-facing guns dating back to the late 1800s are a unique sight. Once considered critical for Queensland’s naval defence, the guns have stood guard for more than a century but have never been needed to save the city from the Russians or anyone else.
38
Queen’s Park’s Lower Charm
From ‘Monkey Business’ to Tranquillity
Wander through lower Queen’s Park near the Walker Street entrance, where a charming wedding chapel and waterfall have replaced the mischief of bygone days. It’s a serene spot to pause and reflect.
Romance of Portside
39
From Time Balls to Tide Calls
The History of Maryborough’s Post Office
Post a letter at Queensland’s oldest masonry post office, where a time ball once dropped daily to alert ships at the river wharf to get their crews out of the pub to catch the high tide.
40
Walk of Achievers
Celebrating Local Legends
Stroll the Walk of Achievers to celebrate Maryborough locals who have excelled on national and international stages in various fields—though Arctic exploration and space travel are still on the to-do list.
41
Queensland’s Oldest Courthouse
Step Into Justice and Elegance
Admire the delicate decorative patterns on the graceful courthouse, the oldest working courthouse in Queensland. Stand back to get the full effect. If it’s call-over day you might want to keep your distance anyway.
42
Maryborough Heritage Centre
Family Records & Immigrant Stories
Discover your family’s history at the Maryborough Family Heritage Centre, home to rich tales of immigrants who braved hazardous sea journeys to settle and thrive along the Mary River.