Sunday 14th February 2021
Last night Madeline had a little boy visit with his mother from a cabin across from us. The boys name was Hugo and they played together for a good 20min with clothes line pegs. There was lots of laughing, giggling and running around. It was a precious moment to watch.
We woke up at 330 today and Madeline wanted to climb in bed with mummy and daddy. We woke up at 8am after a short intermission at 330am.
We packed up the van in light showers of rain and headed off to Torquay, near Harvey Bay.
Maryborough
On the way to our destination we went through a town called Maryborough. It’s had lots of historic looking buildings. The most intriguing part was a railway track that ran parallel to the main road for around 2-3km.
This intrigued us and so we looked up more regarding its history.
History
This tiny town on the Fraser Coast was the birthplace of P.L. Travers, serving as the inspiration behind her book Mary Poppins. And it’s as character-filled as the book itself.
By the 1840s the district of Wide Bay (Maryborough) had been settled and in July 1847 the government surveyor, J. C. Burnett, surveyed the river, declaring that it was “an eligible position for the establishment of a town as parties will no doubt settle there as soon as there is prospect of trade”.
In September 1847 George Furber built a store, a house and a jetty at Wide Bay and by December he had shipped his first load of 65 bales of wool.
The settlement was officially named Maryborough on 23 January, 1849.
The rapid growth of the new port and the town was stimulated by the timber, sugar, tallow, wool and hide industries. Trade and commerce were later consolidated with the Gympie gold rush.
Train station
Built in 1882, the heritage listed Maryborough Railway Station features a Victorian design.
The first sod for the railway line from Maryborough to Gympie was turned in 1878, with pick and shovel gangs completing the project in three years. In 1895, the district boasted 300 items of locally made rolling stock. Maryborough has long been a major supplier of steam, diesel-electric and electric trains and train carriages in a railway history that began in 1873.
The railway station also has an air raid shelter built during the Second World War in viewing distance.
Torquay
We arrived, after a quick stop at Aldi, around 12pm. We set up our van at Ingenia Harvey Bay, in Torquay.
The afternoon
It rained most of the afternoon so we enjoyed indoor play and learning.
We saw a massive bat colony fly over just after dinner. There were hundreds maybe thousands flying in the sky. I unfortunately didn’t get a photo, but it’s was an amazing sight!
Tomorrow
Tomorrow we get on the vehicle barge and cross over the Fraser Island. We are going to spend 4 nights there.
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