Maryborough’s Haunted Doll Museum closes doors

The owner of Maryborough’s Haunted Doll Museum has been forced to close its doors due to an ongoing dispute with the council.

Dolls at Maryborough's Haunted Doll Museum.

Maryborough’s Haunted Dolls Museum has been forced to temporarily close its doors due to ongoing zoning issues with the Fraser Coast council that could cost its owner tens of thousands of dollars a year in rates.

Slovak native Silvia Heszterenyiova Sullivan opened the museum in Maryborough in the Engineers Arms at the end of 2023, and it had proven to be a popular attraction in the Heritage City.

Thousands of dolls, some of which are collector’s items and some created by Ms Sullivan, are on display at the museum.

But in a Facebook post this week, Ms Sullivan confirmed the museum’s future was now unclear due to an ongoing dispute with the council.

“I moved into the Engineers Arms as a residential lessee and it was zoned residential,” she said.

“The council have now zoned the entire property as commercial, with the rates at five times the amount of the residential cost.

Dolls at Maryborough's Haunted Doll Museum.

“I only used the ground level for business purposes on weekends and I reside upstairs.

“I am sorry to the large volume of people that are constantly inquiring about opening hours and ghost tours.

“It’s sad that I had to close before Christmas, summer holidays, and before the Scouts came into town, and they asked to come to my doll museum the year I opened.

“I was hoping to provide Maryborough with an awesome tourist attraction open during weekends and holidays, Halloween events.

“I was hopeful of rectifying the issues despite the three months I’ve already waited.

“If I knew at the beginning they would change it after one year, yes, I would never have moved into this house.”

Ms Sullivan said the business had been closed more often than it was open and she’d had to work elsewhere to be able to pay her bills

“They should have told me about it when they came here to look and talk to me about my museum before I opened it,” she said.

One of the dolls at Maryborough's Haunted Doll Museum.

“I thought they would support me as they said they would.

“Now in my last email it said: ‘if Silvia rents a new commercial property in town, she will be in the same situation as she is presently with having to pay for commercial rates and outgoings of the property, but the amount might be slightly varied depending on valuation of the property. The only time she wouldn’t be paying rates while renting, is if it was a residential arrangement, but if it was residential, then she wouldn’t be able to operate a business from it, without going through other approval processes’.

“From my understanding no matter where I open, they going to charge me around $6500 rates every three months.

“My only option is to keep the museum closed.

“I asked if I can keep (it) as a not-for-profit business or I have offered (for) them to run my museum themselves, but I didn’t receive an answer.

“I wanted to thank you all very much for all your support my beautiful customers and friends.

One of the dolls at Maryborough's Haunted Doll Museum.

“I will keep you all posted what happens next.”

In a response, a spokeswoman from the Fraser Coast Regional Council said the property classification of the Engineers Arms was updated from residential to commercial after a property inspection identified it had been incorrectly listed as residential.

“While the previous lower rates were applied in good faith, the property is now subject to commercial rates in line with its correct zoning and building classification,” she said.

“Lease conditions, including expenses, are private agreements between tenants and property owners and do not involve council.

“If a property owner or purchaser wishes to pursue a change to residential zoning, they can submit an application for Material Change of Use to council with the necessary supporting documentation.”

Councillor Paul Truscott also provided a response regarding the issue.

“Council are aware of the concerns raised and have been in communication with the tenant and property owners about the matter,” he said.

“For a very long time the property has had a history of being a commercial property. “Should the property owner wish to do so, an application can be made to consider changing the building classification.

“To my knowledge, no application has been made to date.

“The leasing arrangement and conditions between the property owner and the tenant is a private arrangement that Council has no involvement in.”

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