With fresh resolve, residents in the historic town of Marburg have banded together to breathe new life into old spaces.
Story + Photos Paula Heelan
On a sunlit autumn morning, Marburg’s rustic streetscape is spick-and-span, with enticing shopfronts, planter boxes and informative signs. With collaboration and creativity, 900 local residents have transformed this small town that lies between the City of Ipswich and the Somerset regions, west of Brisbane, enticing curious visitors and new residents. Working together, the Marburg and District’s Residents’ Association, government bodies, and community and business groups are driving local initiatives, such as weekend markets; the annual town Christmas party; environmental, history and land care projects; and The Black Snake Creek Festival, featuring art, craft and music.
A picturesque town, Marburg straddles Black Snake Creek on Jagera country and is flanked by creek flats, rolling hills and steep gullies. German settlers arrived in the 1860s and named the settlement after Marburg in Hesse, Germany.
This story excerpt is from Issue #138
Outback Magazine: August/September 2021
