Sharing stories from Maryborough

In 2016 members of the Gallery, Library, Archive and Museum (GLAM) sector focused on the unique ways the sector is re-interpreting heritage experiences through storytelling. The South East Queensland Small Museums conference in Maryborough brought together a diverse group of experienced practitioners who shared their insights and local stories, adding value to generational understanding for their regions. Hosted by the Fraser Coast Regional Council delegates from all parts of Queensland considered the creative ways museums and the heritage sector could inspire imagination, engage with visitors creatively, encourage discussions and debate and lead to new discoveries.

Just some of the highlights shared at the conference in 2016. Image taken by State Library of Queensland

Highlights included: the collaborative Local History Music Historypin project for Maryborough, the 2016 Maryborough Open House and Garden event, the Maryborough Story Trail being developed by Fraser Coast Regional Council for the CBD and portside areas of Maryborough, the Ration Shed Museum and the story of the Legends of Moonie Jarl as told to the Butchulla people, illustrated by Olga Miller (Wandi).

The Brolga Theatre came alive with delegates at the SEQ Small Museums Conference, Oct 2016.  Image taken by Anne Scheu, State Library of Queensland

The region’s Museum Development Officer Lydia Egunnike invites responses to a range of questions put forward by the delegates.

Uniquely Maryborough...

• The Butchulla people described the bend of the Mary River nearest to the first European settlement as Moonaboola.
• Sisters Elizabeth, Margaret, Maryann and Sarah Gregory opened the first store in Adelaide Street and eventually operated three local hotels in Maryborough's CBD from the mid-1850s.
• Single men would swarm the docks when ships arrived in search of an eligible partner.
• Helen Lyndon Goff, daughter of bank manager Travers Goff was born in Maryborough. Adopting the pen name P.L Travers, she authored the Mary Poppins suite of books (8 in total).

Information supplied using the Maryborough Story Trail self-guided walking tour brochure. The walking tour featured public art, multimedia and stories told by local artisans.

Maryborough Court House,  northern end of Wharf Street, Duncan Chapman statue, erected as part of the 2015 First World War commemorations in Maryborough. Images Anne Scheu, State Library of Queensland

Anne Scheu, Coordinator Distributed Collections, Queensland Memory