Maryborough Heritage Centre

Maryborough Heritage Centre is a heritage-listed former bank building at 164 Richmond Street, Maryborough, Fraser Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by George Allen Mansfield and James Cowlishaw and built in 1877 for the Bank of New South Wales. It is also known as National Parks and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Post Master General's Department, and Telecom Building. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.HistoryThe Maryborough Heritage Centre was built in 1877 as the second purpose-built branch of the Bank of New South Wales in Maryborough possibly to the design of Sydney architect, George Mansfield in conjunction with Queensland architect, James Cowlishaw.The original township of Maryborough was situated, not in its current place, but on the north of the Mary River, after wharves were established in 1847-1848 providing transport for wool from sheep stations on the Burnett River. In 1850 Surveyor, Hugh Roland Labatt arrived in Maryborough with instructions to "examine the River Mary...to suggest...the best site or sites for the laying out of the town, having regard to the convenience of shipping on one hand and internal communication on the other...also...point out the spots desirable as reserves for public building, church, quay and for places for public recreation." The site recommended by Labatt was not where settlement was established but further east and from the early 1850s this is where the growing town developed.