Becoming Mary - Carmel Murdoch

Carmel Murdoch will retire from her role as Mary Heritage on 18 July, 23 years after first donning the costume that took her on a magical Mary tour over two decades.

Throughout the years, Mary Heritage has morphed into six other personalities – Mary Christmas, Mary Poppins, Mary Widow, Mary Rose, Mary Rivers, and Steam Punk Mary.

Mary Heritage was born in 1988 at Maryborough City Council’s exhibition at the World Expo in Brisbane.
Only three other women have been Mary Heritage. Before Carmel, there was Del Jensen, Marjorie Green and Barbara Barringhaus.

In 1999, a year after becoming Mary Heritage and Mary Christmas, Carmel also became Mary Poppins.

“That’s when we discovered the Mary Poppins author was born in Maryborough.

“The next character was Mary Widow for the Ghost Tours. Then, for functions at the rose gardens, I was Mary Rose.

“After that came Mary Rivers for night tours, and the last one was Steam Punk Mary.”

"These roles have been more than just work. They’ve been magical."

As Mary Heritage, Carmel travelled far and her costumes, made by local dressmakers, drew wide-spread attention.

“The furthest I travelled was to the UK,” she said.

“Maryborough was to host the World Town Criers Championship in 2005. I’d never been to a world championship, so the Town Crier and I travelled to the UK to find out what to do.”

Carmel has also attended 16 Australian Town Crier Championships and won 13 costume awards.

“The costumes have been brilliant for promoting Maryborough.

“I’ve loved my roles and extolling the fabulous things we have here. There isn’t a day when I’m wearing the costume that I don’t get asked for photos.

“I will miss the roles but I have so much else to do. I might even go fly a kite!”

Story and Photo: Jocelyn Watts