Summary

A 60 minute walk of discovery in Maryborough, highlighting some pivotal monuments and public buildings. Rich in parklands and significant architecture, immerse yourself in nature and history.

Description

Starting at the iconic 1890 Maryborough Railway Station with its ornate architecture. During a visit in 1895, the author Mark Twain quipped that Maryborough was “a station with a town attached”! If open, the entrance hall with ornate carved ticket windows, as well as the longest station platform in country Victoria are worth a look. Toilets, seating and café (subject to opening hours) are available, along with public parking.
Head north-east along Victoria St North and pass St Johns Ambulance Divisional Hall. Turn right through the underpass walkway alongside Pyrenees Hwy up to Gillies Street roundabout. Cross the road and continue straight to Kennedy St, then turn left. Walk up the Kennedy St hill (nb: no footpaths) to the the Simson Monument in the centre of the road. Climb the steps for a scenic view across to the Pyrenees.
Continue along Kennedy St, left at Spring St and left again at Gillies St. Turn right at Taylor St and follow this down to and cross at the pedestrian railway crossing. Continue straight with the small Downing Reserve to your right and the Box-Ironbark Avenue in front. The Maryborough Lawn Tennis Centre is to your left and Jubilee Park Oval on the right.
Continue West to Lake Victoria's gravel promenade, follow this in a counter-clockwise direction where you will pass many park benches, a children’s playground, barbeque area (with tap), public toilets and the Maryborough Caravan Park and camping ground. Willow trees form a shady green canopy on the lake edge. The sporting precincts are on the West side with hockey fields, netball courts and the magnificent Princes Park oval with its historic grandstand.
Continue to the South end of the lake and see if any fish are biting along the boardwalk. Turn right around the outside of the Maryborough Olympic Swimming Pool area and admire the futuristic 1940 Art Deco facility. Stroll through the garden pathway of Princes Park, with the historic rotunda on your right and 1881 main drain left. There is seating around the oval and a drinking fountain at the end of the path.
Cross over the footbridge and exit through the cast iron and granite memorial gates with their poignant reminder of lives lost in WWI. Turn left along High St and admire the quaint Victorian-era ticketing box. Continue along High Street through the CBD to the Nolan Street roundabout overlooked by the impressive Bull and Mouth Hotel. Can you see the decorative metal panels just below the domed turret? What about the curved glass windows in the round room…
Turn left into Nolan St and continue past the Maryborough Resource Centre on the right (with public toilets, library and tourist information), through to Burns St then turn left.
Cross the road to enter the Station Domain with the children’s Adventure Playground. Public toilets are available to the right of the Maryborough Community Hub building. Finishing point is back at the Maryborough Railway Station.

30543 Views

Points of Interest

1. Maryborough Railway Station, Station Street

Maryborough’s iconic railway station was completed in 1890. Take some time to admire the intricate tessellated tiles, elaborate entrance hall and also the longest station platform in country Victoria.

2. Simson Memorial Cairn , Kennedy Street

1939 monument commemorating the Simson brothers: first white settlers of the Maryborough area back in 1840. Some of the stones are from the original homestead. Climb the steps for a sweeping view.

3. Box-Ironbark Avenue

Walk the Box-Ironbark avenue between the tennis courts and Jubilee Oval and see if there are any blossoms attracting nectar-feeding native birds.

4. Lake Victoria

Walk the willow path round Lake Victoria and pass by a playground, covered bbq facilities, Caravan Park and camping area, sporting fields, fishing boardwalk and many species of water-loving birdlife.

5. Outdoor Olympic Swimming Pool

A heritage-listed 1940 Art Deco building houses the public outdoor pool area. With dense lawns, specimen trees and 3 separate pools, it’s one of Maryborough’s favourite places in the Summer months.

6. Princes Park historic rotunda & grandstand

The historic rotunda was built in 1904/1905 to commemorate Maryborough’s Golden Jubilee. Look out across to the ornate grandstand and lush grass of the Princes Park sporting oval.

7. Memorial Gates to Princes Park

The impressive 1885 cast-iron gates and pillars of Harcourt granite (c.1926) with the names of fallen WWI soldiers are a solemn reminder of loss in a community. Lest we forget.

8. Princes Park ticket box

This quaint ticket box was built in 1908 and is the only known remaining one still in operation today.

9. The Bull and Mouth Hotel

Admire one of High Street’s most ornate buildings, The Bull & Mouth Hotel. Built in 1904 with grand features, a multi-million dollar project has recently been undertaken to restore its former glory.

Features

Playground

Picnic spot

Drinking water available

Seating available

Public toilets

Historical interest

Local treasures

Art and culture

Lake, creek, river

Park / Garden