Just three hours from Brisbane while exploring the Fraser Coast, a trip to the historical town of Maryborough is a must. Maryborough’s striking art, statues, heritage buildings, memorials and museums tell the story of a town that was once one of Australia’s largest port.

Mayborough was one of Queensland’s industrial powerhouses in the final decade of the 19th century, producing naval ships, sugar milling equipment and railway rolling stock.

For those intrigued in military can delve into Fraser Coast’s rich military history, spending a day at the new Galipolli to Armistice Memorial in Queens Park will not disappoint. The memorial features a sculpture of Lieutenant Duncan Chapman – the first Australian ashore at Gallipoli. A walk through the memorial is filled with audio and visual stories of the many men and women from Maryborough who served at war for Australia.

After enjoying the memorial, take a stroll and visit the Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum showcasing the largest collection of military artefacts outside of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Maryborough’s historic charms don’t stop there – head to Cherry Tree Lane on Richmond Street to find the statue of Mary Poppins beside the 136-year-old bank building where her creator, Pamela Lyndon Travers, was born in 1889. The building has now been transformed into the Story Bank – a bank that trades in stories. Enter the Bank and interact with the characters and settings from the world famous Mary Poppins stories.