The creator of the world’s most famous and magical nanny was born in Maryborough, on the beautiful Fraser Coast where - just like in the novels - you’ll discover magical, timeless fun and naturally perfect adventures.
To celebrate, an exclusive premiere screening of the movie will be held in the author’s birthplace on 3 January ahead of the movie’s release on 9 January.
Mary Poppins themed characters, vintage cars, music and street theatre performances outside the heritage listed building where the author was born will provide a magical prelude to the screening in the city’s riverside Brolga Theatre.
Saving Mr Banks is based on the early years of Travers and her negotiations with Walt Disney for movie rights to her famous stories.
Travers was born in 1899 in the top floor of a Maryborough bank building where her father was the manager- just like Mr Banks, the father in the original Disney movie, and the inspiration for the latest Disney offering.
To coincide with the January 9 launch of Saving Mr Banks, the Fraser Coast is inviting visitors to see where the Mary Poppins magic began…and continue the adventure.
You can explore Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island, and snorkel among coral gardens, giant manta rays and sea turtles on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
Find aquatic adventures in crystal blue oceans around Hervey Bay and dine on delicious seafood caught fresh in local waters. And finally, with a spoonful of imagination and Maryborough's glorious colonial streetscapes as the setting, you can also jump into the magical world of Mary Poppins.
No-one is sure if Travers named her famous character after her birthplace but it is just one of many curious little similarities between Maryborough and the Mary Poppins stories.
The glorious old bank building where she was born in 1899 and the grand old park near her home remain virtually unchanged from her childhood days.
Over the years, Maryborough’s Mary Poppins’ obsession has grown and the city’s stunning heritage streetscapes are creatively used as a glorious backdrop for a number of “practically perfect” Mary Poppins themed experiences:
- A statue of Mary Poppins, based on the illustrations in the novels, stands proudly outside Travers’ heritage-listed birthplace.
- The birthplace is just a short stroll to an idyllic heritage-listed riverside park which has remarkable similarities to the park which features heavily in the author’s novels and original Disney movie.
- A mad-cap Mary Poppins Festival is held annually in the June July school holidays complete with nanny races, steam trains, kite flying and sidewalk art.
- A quirky Magical Mary Trail take visitors on an enchanting journey to discover intriguing parallels between the novels and the author’s birthplace.
- A “Tea with Mary” tour offers visitors the chance to have their own Mary Poppins themed character as their guide as they unlock Mary Poppins connections, discover amazing heritage and enjoy a tea party in a heritage-listed cafe.
- A time cannon is fired in the city, a tradition that continues from a time before the Travers was born.
- Murals and public art celebrate and explore scenes from the novel.
For more go to www.visitfrasercoast.com. You will find great holiday deals and ideas for a magical Fraser Coast experience. For details on the exclusive Mary Poppins movie screening event and the Mary Poppins Festival go to www.marypoppinsfestival.com.au
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