From undertakers to pie-makers: How new art honours historic city’s founding business families

A facelift of one of Queensland’s oldest cities now includes a story trail which celebrates the longstanding family businesses which shaped the CBD.

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders and Councillor Daniel Sanderson celebrate the story boxes which honour founding Maryborough family businesses like Sauer's Pies.

From undertakers to pie makers, the stories of the family businesses which shaped Maryborough now line the CBD.

As part of the Maryborough CBD Revitalisation Project, ‘story boxes’ on Adelaide Street, between Ellena and Alice streets, have honoured longstanding local businesses.

The project was completed on the highlighted section of Adelaide Street – between Ellena and Alice streets.

Councillor Daniel Sanderson said the $3 million project, which included the installation of six artworks, was needed to help the CBD “evolve”.

“A CBD is no longer just a place to shop – we want it to evolve into a people-friendly space where a variety of events and activities can be held as well as still providing access to businesses,” Cr Sanderson said.

“The artworks which include a mixture of small bronze statues and photographs, are a tribute to the longstanding businesses that have operated from this section of Adelaide Street and are now household names across the Fraser Coast.

Maryborough MP Bruce Saunders and Councillor Daniel Sanderson at story box on Adelaide Street.

“They tell the story of some of the businesses that have operated continuously from Adelaide Street and include J Kirk and Son, which has had a shopfront here for 155 years and is still operated by the Kirk family … Cree and McCullough has been there for 103 years, Bradshaws has been here for 55 years and the Central Hotel has been operating for 158 years, with a variety of owners over that time.”

The Adelaide Street works also included replacing footpaths, installing new street furniture and upgrading underground water mains.

Picture: Councillor Daniel Sanderson

The artworks include;

Maryborough RSL, with its significance marked by a story box and bronze nurse’s hat and cape to honour women in the services.

J Kirk and Sons, noted by a story box which includes a bronze wreath and top hat, modelled on an original still owned by the family.

Cree and McCullough, noted by bronze sculptures of plumbers’ tools to honour Cree and McCullough plumbers, tinsmiths and sheet metal workers.

Central Hotel, with its significance marked by a beer glass and the keys from a piano to recognise the history of the hotel as a music hall.

Maryborough’s love of pies, with a story box installed near Haman Optical to honour the Sauer family in the history of Maryborough. As the Sauer name is synonymous with pies in Maryborough.

Bradshaws Radio and TV, noted by a bronze sculpture of a radio recognising the Bradshaw business.

Augie Sauer, who started the still successful Gail Sauers Bakery Cafe, with his four sons, one whom took over the business from his father.

Gail Sauers Bakery Cafe co-owner Toni Thompson, whose great grandfather – Augie Sauer – was the founder of the bakery, told the Chronicle she felt “honoured” to have the story box.

“I'm actually the fourth generation in the Sauer family to be continuing the business, it's been about 103 years, it was originally established in 1918 … it's wonderful that after all that time, people are still loving it,” Ms Thompson said.

Gail Sauers Bakery Cafe owner Toni Thompson (nee Sauer).

“I had a customer just today who said to me, she was new to the area and one of her clients had said to her this is the bakery that you need to go try … It's just beautiful. My favourite thing is (hearing about) … people who grew up with Sauers pies and have such lovely childhood memories, I just think that's the sweetest thing.

“It's such a good little product, it's a really beautiful pie … made really well and the way it's made is what makes it different, we've just continued that through the generations and just continue to do it the same way … people always ask me if we still make the same pie in the same way and yes, of course we do.”