Celebrating 150 Years as Botanic Gardens | 1873 - 2023
Heritage-listed Queen’s Park is one of Australia’s earliest botanic gardens. It was gazetted in 1873, although planning for the park began as early as 1865 when Maryborough’s first Mayor Henry Palmer requested that his residents have free use of land near the Maryborough wharves for recreation or for public gardens.
Covering 12.7 acres in the heart of Maryborough, Queen's Park feautres a River Walk with sweeping river views, rolling green lawns, a waterfall and lilly pond, ornamental flower beds, towering trees and unique heritage features such as the Band Rotunda and Melville Fountain.
Queen's Park is home to the Maryborough Cenotaph, Gallipoli to Armistice Memorial and Butchulla Warrior Memorial.
On the last Sunday of each month the Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association (Melsa) run miniature steam engines on the circuit beneath the Banyan Tree as part of the Sunday in the Park celebrations. The monthly event also includes the Excelsior City Brass Band performing under the historic Band Rotunda, food stalls and children's activities as well as Train Rides on the Mary Ann, a replica of the first steam engine built in Maryborough. The Mary Ann also runs each Thursday from 9am to 1pm.