Tucked away in the streets of Maryborough is a place where stories come to life, and if you’re lucky, Mary Poppins herself might just be your guide.
This month’s hidden gem is The Story Bank, housed in the former Australian Joint Stock Bank, the very building where Pamela Lyndon Travers, author of Mary Poppins, was born in 1899.
The Story Bank is far more than a museum. It’s a celebration of imagination. A place where words float in the air like dandelion seeds, and where the line between childhood and adulthood fades into whimsy.
I was fortunate enough to join a tour led by Mary herself, complete with parasol and perfectly proper charm, and was quickly swept up in a swirl of tales, quotes and curiosities.
“Once we have accepted the story we cannot escape the story’s fate,” read one quote on the wall. Another? “If you are honest, you have no idea where childhood ends and maturity begins. It is all endless and one.” The building is filled with poetic truths that feel pulled from the clouds.
P L Travers’ life was as layered as the pages she wrote. Born Helen Lyndon Goff in Maryborough, she moved to Allora and later Sydney before eventually heading to London. Her pen name, Pamela Lyndon Travers, was inspired by her father’s name, Travers Goff. She once said she didn’t write Mary Poppins for children, but for the child in all of us. That sentiment echoes through every corner of the Story Bank.
The interactive exhibits invite visitors to craft their own tales, explore the original bank vaults, and peek into rooms brimming with imagination.
You’ll need at least an hour, probably more, to take it all in. There’s always something tugging at your attention, whether it’s a handwritten letter, a whimsical sculpture, or a page from a story yet to be finished.
Just around the corner, Maryborough’s tribute continues with themed pedestrian crossing lights that flash with Mary Poppins’ silhouette, umbrella raised, feet off the ground, keeping the magic alive across the city. These lights are especially charming in the lead up to the annual Mary Poppins Festival, where the whole town joins in on the fun.
But the storytelling doesn’t stop there.
To wrap up your morning in Maryborough, wander over to the Bond Store, another piece of the past with plenty to say. Originally built in 1864, this heritage listed building once served as a secure customs storehouse for rum, tobacco, opium and other taxed goods. Its earthen floors and barrel rails still hold the feel of a time gone by.
Today, it’s a haven for regional produce, artefacts, and if you’re lucky, a tasting or two of locally made port and liqueurs. Friendly staff share stories inspired by the collection, adding flavour to every sip. There’s something grounding about the Bond Store, a quiet strength that complements the magic found just up the street.
So next time you’re heading along the Bruce Highway, take a turn into Maryborough. Slow down. Stay a while. Let your mind wander. You never know where the story might take you.
