The Maryborough Sun, Thursday 8th April 2021
2
Mary Ann name plate reunion It was unveiled at a ceremony on March 28.
JAY FIELDING
A PIECE of Maryborough’s past has been linked with its present.
In attendance were James Sim and Barry Sim, William Sim’s great-grandson and great-great-grandson, and David Pettigrew, William Pettigrew’s great-great-grandson.
The nameplate of the Mary Ann, the first locomotive built in Queensland, has been mounted on the train’s modern-day replica. It is the only known surviving part of the original Mary Ann, which was built in 1873 by John Walker and Co and destroyed in a fire 20 years later. The train, which featured an unusual vertical boiler, hauled timber at Cooloola to supply the Dundathu sawmill owned by William Sim and William Pettigrew.
Also in attendance was Maryborough woman Marilyn Jenson, whose brother Merv Volkers donated the nameplate to the Maryborough City Whistle Stop just before Christmas. The nameplate had been in the collection of rail memorabilia owned by Mr Volkers, a rail enthusiast from Ipswich.
Both men had daughters named Mary Ann.
Whistle Stop president Warren McPherson said investigations had since proved the nameplate was the original.
The nameplate now adorns the rear of the replica Mary Ann so it can be seen in all its glory by passengers who enjoy a ride on Thursdays and the last Sunday of the month as it shuttles between Queens Park and the Mary River Parklands.
“One-hundred-and-fortyeight years ago, through the foresight of the Sim and Pettigrew families who are represented here today, began the rail construction industry here in Maryborough, with a little locomotive, built for the unglamourous job
Peter Olds, Marilyn Jensen, David Pettigrew and Mayor George Seymour at the unveiling of the original Mary Ann’s nameplate. (Jay Fielding)
of transporting timber through the bush for shipment to the mill,” Mr McPherson said.
“In her short life, she managed to revolutionise the shipment of heavy materials, in difficult
HEAT & SERVE MEALS $9.95
$
the 1990s was led by Maryborough engineer Peter Olds, who also attended the ceremony.
2 for
9200
$
9200 or $46.99 ea
or $46.99 ea
4999
4999
The effort to build the replica Mary Ann in
2 for
$
$
situations.”
per ctn
per ctn
XXXX GOLD 30PK CANS FURPHY STUBBIES BYRON BAY LAGER STUBBIES
$
5000 each
XXXX BITTER STUBBIES TOOHEYS NEW STUBBIES HAHN SUPER DRY 4.6% STUBBIES
5200
$
each
GREAT NORTHERN SUPER CRISP $ 24PK STUBBIES
4400 10 pk
BUNDY OP 10PK CANS
2 for
1500
$
$
1999
$
36
99
12 pk
per ctn
1L - BUNDY UP RUM / CAPT MORGAN SPICED / 1L GORDONS GIN / JOHHNIE WALKER RED / JIM BEAM / CANADIAN CLUB SMIRNOFF VODKA
SPECIALS AVAILABLE 05/04/21 – 18/04/21
WINNER – BAR & CLUB DINING HIGHLY COMMENDED – BEST DINING EXPERIENCE
HARDYS VR 1L RANGE
CARRIER’S ARMS
NZ PURE STUBBIES
BOTTLE SHOP & DRIVE THRU
QHA AWARD BEST DRAUGHT BEER
STATION SQUARE BOTTLE-O
405 ALICE STREET, MARYBOROUGH PHONE 4122 6666 WWW.CARRIERSARMS.COM.AU
