Portside - a snapshot of early colonial life
Settled way back in 1847, Maryborough was the place more than 22,000 free settlers took their first steps on Australian soil after months at sea.
Visitors can relive those early years with a visit to the City’s historic port area - Portside. The port may be long dormant, but its history and gloriously preserved buildings remain – along with a sense of time suspended.
Around 13 heritage-listed buildings are open to the public as museums, restaurants and galleries, and as a daily witness to the city's past.
Portside Walk - click here for a self-guided walk through Portside.
Portside Centre
For your complete guide to Portside and the wider city visit the Portside Centre in Wharf Street. The Portside Centre – part of the Queensland Heritage Trails Network –provides a professional, colourful and entertaining representation of Maryborough's history as major port and one of Queensland’s oldest cities.
Interactive displays include listening posts with first settler stories, time capsules and a multimedia Pepper's ghost display revisiting the time when sly grog running was rife and opium was a legal import. Experienced guides and scores of publications help give people insight into the city and its colourful origins.
Bond Store Museum
Just a few doors away is one of the largest museum collections celebrating this early history and one of the city’s oldest buildings: the Bond Store Museum.
Walk through the Bond Store, and you're stepping on history. The earthen floor and ancient handmade bricks in the original 1864 building downstairs still exist, as do many of the liquor barrels left over from that time.
The Portside Centre can be found at:
101 Wharf Street
Maryborough Q 4650
Phone: (07) 4190 5730
Fax: (07) 4123 1535
Open 7 days a week (except Good Friday and Christmas Day)
HOURS:
Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4pm
Saturday & Sunday 10.00am to 4pm
ENTRY FEE:
Entry fee is by gold coin donation. Group bookings outside these hours by appointment.