Karl left Gympie behind and made his way to Maryborough for a short rest, as reported in the Maryborough Chronicle, before continuing his journey north to Bundaberg.
Maryborough, often called Queensland’s “Heritage City,” is home to beautifully preserved buildings and a vibrant past. In the early 1900s, this riverside town thrived as an industrial centre and key shipping port. It grew into a railway hub with major engineering works producing locomotives and even ships. The region was also known for timber milling and sugar cane — industries that shaped the town’s growth and prosperity.
Now, dear reader, sometimes heritage towns hang on by a thread — a mural here, a modest museum there — struggling to remain relevant. But Maryborough was different. This town was alive with energy, charm, and far more to explore than I had anticipated.
My plan was to dive into its history and eventually honour Karl’s time here. But instead, I was immediately distracted — enchanted, even — the moment I crossed an intersection and noticed something peculiar. Instead of the standard red and green pedestrian symbols, I found myself facing a different figure altogether: a silhouette of a woman holding an umbrella. Red: umbrella down. Green: umbrella raised, as if she were about to fly.
Mary Poppins.
Yes, Maryborough may be far from London, but it’s the birthplace of the magical nanny’s creator, P.L. Travers.
Born Helen Lyndon Goff on August 9, 1899 — just eight months before Karl’s arrival — P.L. Travers lived in the upstairs residence of the Australian Joint Stock Bank on the corner of Richmond and Kent Streets, where her father was the bank manager.
Today, that bank has been transformed into a museum called The Story Bank, a whimsical tribute to her life and legacy. It’s now a place where stories, not savings, are collected. The museum houses interactive displays featuring P.L. Travers’ early life, personal photos and documents, and the beloved Mary Poppins tales. There are letters, film memorabilia, and a magical atmosphere that invites visitors to step into a world where imagination still rules.
This was a must-see addition to my itinerary and did not disappoint:
Relevance to Karl? Almost none — but as we’ve seen before, time has a way of rewriting a town’s story. Just think of Fargo, North Dakota — once a quiet stopover, now etched in pop culture thanks to the Coen brothers. Or Dundee, Scotland — once simply a shipbuilding town, now proudly home to the RRS Discovery. Maryborough joins that list: a place Karl passed through without fanfare, later transformed by the legacy of a magical nanny named Mary Poppins.
After a bit of supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, I adhered to the raised or lowered umbrellas and headed to the historical buildings of Maryborough. Many of the town’s key civic buildings were already standing when Karl passed through in 1900, and they remain remarkably intact today.
I passed the School of Arts, established in 1888, which offered adult education and reading rooms. The building now serves as a cultural hub — a reminder that even in its early days, Maryborough valued learning and the arts.
Another important site is the Maryborough Railway Station, opened in 1878. It once formed the beating heart of this industrial town, linking it to distant ports and inland farms. The Railway Master's House, located nearby, reflects the elevated architectural standards even for railway staff — wide verandahs, and a structure raised against floods and heat.
At the centre of town is a cluster of elegant public buildings, many dating back to the late 19th century. I began at the Maryborough Post Office, built in the 1870s with a colonnade of arches and an imposing clock tower. The structure reflects Maryborough’s status as a significant regional centre during Queensland’s gold and sugar boom. Of course, I went inside to get my book stamped.
There’s also the Post Office Hotel, built in 1889 and still overlooking this historic area. The two-storeyed hotel had shops on the ground floor, and the public bar was described as the largest in town.
And while I know Karl had also stopped to get his book stamped in Maryborough, I’d like to think that he stopped at the bar for a pint of ale.
P.S. Years ago, I dressed as Mary Poppins for Halloween. It turns out that it’s not just her umbrella that lifts you; sometimes it’s the places and the way things unexpectedly connect.
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