The people bringing life back to Maryborough's heritage buildings

In Maryborough, a historic port city north of Brisbane, a dedicated group of residents is undertaking a significant effort to restore the city's heritage buildings. This initiative aims to counter a recent increase in anti-social conduct within the central business district and inject new life into the community.

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We felt by activating these venues, that will also help the community and give them places to take back the town, I guess, get some life back in there.

Simon Gall and his wife, Csilla Gall, are at the forefront of this movement, having purchased and begun restoring the Embassy Theatre, King's Café, and the Central Hotel. These venues, once vibrant hubs for entertainment and dining in the mid-to-late 1900s, are being meticulously brought back to their original state. Gall envisions the Central Hotel operating as a multi-functional space with a bar, bistro, and upstairs lodging, aiming to recreate the bustling atmosphere of its past.

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The buildings have gone through so much change and alteration, the first step has been to go through almost a demolition stage where we're carving back the terrible things people did to these buildings.

Gall describes the restoration process as an "adventurous nightmare," involving extensive demolition to remove later alterations and careful reconstruction. This meticulous work requires specialized skills to replicate or remake missing elements, match heritage colors, and find vintage replicas. For instance, some pressed metal elements had to be recreated as plaster, as the original 1921 patterns were unavailable. The Galls are collaborating with Australian businesses to source specific colors and designs, preserving these specialized crafts.

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These are very specialised skills that not many people can do anymore.

Carl Jespersen, owner of the Portside Cafe & Restaurant, shares a similar commitment. He transformed a former customs house, built in 1899, into a renowned fine-dining establishment. Jespersen recognized the building's potential and the local need for upscale dining and function venues. He noted that the building, while in a prime location, was underutilized before he took over the lease, seeing an opportunity to cater to a market seeking quality dining experiences.

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People struggled to go to a nice place to have functions or to eat out and there really wasn't that market here.