Maryborough Central Activity District - $5 million

The ask - $ 5 million 

Significant public-sector investment is required to revitalise key civic sites in Central Maryborough. As well as enabling affordable town-centre housing, this will encourage private-sector investment in the retail, tourism, hospitality and services sectors.

The brief

The fine heritage architecture of the Post Office, court house and Town Hall buildings create a space that can be re-imagined as a civic square or open plaza in the European tradition.

Integrated urban infrastructure treatments will invite pedestrians to explore the award-winning, newly re- imagined Central Goldfields Art Gallery and the High Street retail area as well as provide a strong connection to the redeveloped Hospital precinct.

Further staged works along the Nolan Street spine will draw visitors from the newly activated Maryborough Railway Station into this civic and retail area, integrating the Resource Centre, Phillips Gardens and Paramount Theatre area into a unified town core.

Conclusion

Revitalising civic anchor sites in Central Maryborough and improving connections with the Princes Park heritage precinct will activate the town’s heart. It establishes a cohesive vision and long-term view in which government investment in the public realm stimulates private sector investment in the retail, tourism, hospitality and services sectors

The benefits 

✓ Leverages major projects already underway around Central Maryborough and regional initiatives such as the evolving World Heritage recognition of the Victorian Goldfields

✓ Links key historical sites and facilitates activation of public spaces through supporting foot traffic and visitor ‘stickiness’ (local spending) through differentiating the centre of Maryborough from generic city/suburban/mall spaces and online retail

✓ Walkability of Central Maryborough encourages inner-town residential renewal and diversification in a context of limited land supply and changing demographics