Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum

12/06/2026

Today marks 30 years since the Black Hawk tragedy near Townsville on 12 June 1996.

During a night-time military training exercise at the High Range Training Area, two Australian Army Black Hawk helicopters collided, claiming the lives of 18 servicemen — 15 from the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) and 3 from the 5th Aviation Regiment.

It remains the deadliest peacetime aviation accident in Australian Army history. Today we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, honour the courage of the survivors and rescuers, and reflect on the lasting impact this tragedy has had on the Townsville community, the Australian Army, and the families of the fallen.

Lest We Forget.

11/06/2026

Today we were visited by some of the visitors in town for the Austins Over Australia rally. They were very impressed with Maryborough and in particular the heritage buildings that are so much a part of our make-up. Ian and Wendy Baistow from the Austin Motor Vehicle Club of NSW are visiting from Bathurst but their beloved Austin A40 doesn't get around the circuit as quickly as a V8 Supercar. Volunteer Tony shared the story of the two bells from HMAS Maryborough with Ian and Wendy. Enjoy the rest of your stay visitors. Fraser Coast residents are invited to see the mighty Austins in all their glory this Sunday morning at the Brolga Theatre.

05/06/2026

Coming up

04/06/2026

The Relish Festival will be held in the Wharf St precinct this Saturday. The Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum will be closed for the day, but we will re-open at 0900 on Sunday. Thank you for your understanding.

30/05/2026

Well, it seems that our Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum is "internationally acclaimed". 😀 Thanks Ronei and Anja for the great feedback. We hope you enjoy finding your peace in this beautiful part of the world.

Flusher Ushers were highly amused when Ronei Menezes from Brazil – now a happy resident at Toogoom – explained why he changed the spelling of his name in Australia.
Ronei, a special school teacher aide, popped in to check out the Cistern Chapel with his partner Anja Schwalenberg from Germany. The pair met in Sydney, lived in Brisbane for three years and moved to Toogoom in December in search of a peaceful life.
They love their new home and found the Cistern Chapel as they ventured out on their one of their explorations of the Heritage City. “Very, very beautiful,” said Ronei. “Gorgeous,” sighed smiling Anja, who is taking time out from her career as a special needs teacher.
Ronei said they had been “really impressed” when they discovered the Maryborough military museum in the city. “That’s something everyone should see when they come here.”
And the name change? He laughed as he explained the real spelling of his Portuguese name was Honei, with the “H” pronounced as an “R” in most parts of Brazil.
Not in Australia. “It took me three months to realise why everyone was laughing at my name in Australia. They were calling me ‘Horny’. I changed it.”
Also signing the visitors book was a tourist from the town of Gallipoli in Turkey. “The best toilet ever,” wrote Mert Akdogan.

26/05/2026

24/05/2026

Step back in time and discover the stories that built our beautiful heritage city!

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning, Rotary Events volunteers conduct FREE guided Heritage Walks through the historic heart of Maryborough. Starting from the magnificent Town Hall and Visitor Information Centre, these relaxed walks take you on a journey through some of Maryborough’s most iconic landmarks, buildings and hidden stories. You'll also pass the J.E. Brown warehouse on Wharf St, which houses the most acclaimed military museum in Australia, outside of the Australian War Memorial. (Thanks for that accolade Dr. Brendan Nelson (former Director of the AWM))

Whether you’re visiting the Fraser Coast or you’ve lived here all your life, you’ll gain a whole new appreciation for the rich history and character of our city. It’s also a fantastic way for new residents to get to know Maryborough and understand why locals are so proud and passionate about this special place.

🚶 Slow paced and easy walking
⏰ Approximately 1 to 1½ hours
📍 Meet at the front of the Visitor Information Centre at the Town Hall
🕘 Be there before 9am
💲 Completely FREE
📋 No bookings required — just turn up!

A huge thank you to the wonderful Rotary Events volunteers who generously give their time to share the stories of Maryborough with locals and visitors alike.

Come along and see Maryborough through new eyes!

19/05/2026

The mighty Avro Lancaster became one of the most important aircraft of World War II, carrying brave young crews deep into occupied Europe on dangerous night bombing raids. Its role in weakening N**i Germany came at a terrible cost, with thousands of airmen never returning home.

Among those courageous aviators was Maryborough’s own Frank Lawrence, a highly decorated RAAF airman awarded both the Distinguished Flying Cross and Distinguished Flying Medal. Men like Frank Lawrence represented the courage, determination and sacrifice of a generation who served far from home in defence of freedom.

The unforgettable sound of a Lancaster’s four Merlin engines still echoes through history as a tribute to those who flew them.

For a fascinating modern story connected to the Lancaster and its wartime legacy, have a read of this recent BBC article:

Sir George Dowty designed the hydraulic landing gear for the World War II Lancaster bomber.

13/05/2026

The AHS Centaur was an Australian hospital ship torpedoed by a Japanese submarine on this day in 1943 east of Cape Moreton, North Stradbroke Island, resulting in 268 deaths out of 332 personnel. The vessel sank in under three minutes, a tragedy that became a major wartime rallying cry. The wreck was located in 2009 at a depth of over 2,000 meters. We have Grantlee Kieza's book on the Centaur and Ellen Savage, the brave nurse who survived, in our retail book store.

23/01/2026

Our military nurses were often not given the recognition they deserved for their gallant efforts. Maryborough's cenotaph is unique in Australia. Apart from honouring the soldiers, airmen and sailors, our city reserved a place on our cenotaph for the contribution made by nurses.
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/images/memorials/3023-5ee69c09abc4fa9aab8f0ce0cb5fb571.JPG
https://placesofpride.awm.gov.au/sites/default/files/images/memorials/3020-a188503a296477baf0c153bf604f2181.JPG