Bomb scare at Maryborough RSL

A Queensland RSL went into lockdown and surrounding streets were closed as police responding to reports of a ‘live explosive’ swarmed the area. VIDEO, PHOTOS.

The Maryborough RSL was evacuated on Wednesday after police were called to reports of a “Live explosive”.

A Queensland Police Spokesman said the device which raised the alarm was an artefact in the museum section of the RSL.

People were briefly evacuated from the RSL about 2pm with Adelaide St and Lennox also cordoned off.

A spokeswoman from the Maryborough Services and Citizens Memorial Club told the Chronicle the members of the sub-branch, who were working upstairs in the RSL museum, “saw what they thought was a live ordnance” and called police.

RSL lockdown, Maryborough. April 27, 2022. Photo: Contributed.

It’s understood the 105mm artillery shell was recently donated to the museum and, as it was painted like the original, workers thought it was live.

Police then evacuated the RSL and surrounding businesses between Lennox Street and Adelaide Street.

The spokeswoman said police then spoke with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who asked for photos to be sent through of the shell.

“In the process of doing that they identified that it was actually a dummy round,” she said

The bomb squad was not called out, as the ADF were able to identify it.

Locals were allowed back into the RSL shortly after the evacuation.

Originally published as Bomb scare at Maryborough RSL