A tiny train, a big smile — what is MELSA?
For more than 30 years, the volunteers of the Model Engineers and Live Steamers Association — known affectionately as MELSA — have been bringing miniature steam trains to life in Maryborough's cherished Queens Park. Children and adults climb aboard small carriages and trundle around a circuit through the park, faces lighting up with pure delight at every curve in the track. It is an attraction as endearingly unique as Maryborough itself.
When and where can you catch a ride?
The miniature tracks and station shelter are located within Queens Park in the heart of Maryborough. Trains run on the last Sunday of each month as part of the broader Sunday in the Park festivities. These monthly celebrations bring together brass bands, food stalls and children's activities, making the whole morning a ready-made family outing rather than just a single ride. Arriving early gives you time to explore the park before the trains start steaming.
What makes Queens Park the perfect setting?
Queens Park is no ordinary backdrop. Established in 1860, the park is home to magnificent trees planted before the turn of the twentieth century, a lace-trimmed band rotunda dating from 1890, a fernery, a waterfall and a lily pond. Strolling through on a Sunday morning, with the scent of the gardens in the air and the sound of a brass band drifting across the lawns, you quickly understand why locals hold this space so dear. The miniature train circuit weaves through this heritage landscape, giving riders a leisurely perspective on one of regional Queensland's finest green spaces.
MELSA and the wider Maryborough family experience
Maryborough prides itself on being Queensland's heritage city, and the MELSA trains fit naturally into a full day of family discovery. After your ride, you can explore the Mary Poppins connection — Maryborough celebrates its ties to P.L. Travers, the author behind the beloved stories — and visit the Story Bank museum or snap a photo with the iconic Mary Poppins statue at the corner of Kent and Richmond streets. The Maryborough City Markets run every Thursday morning in the CBD, and the SplashSide water play area in Anzac Park is another favourite with younger visitors. A single trip to Maryborough can bundle all of these experiences together with ease.
Who is welcome on the trains?
The beauty of MELSA is its inclusivity — the experience is genuinely for all ages. The listing actively notes that MELSA welcomes people with access needs, reflecting the broader Fraser Coast commitment to accessible tourism. Whether you're shepherding toddlers on their very first train ride or rekindling a lifelong love of steam engineering, the atmosphere is relaxed and unhurried. Volunteers who run the trains bring genuine passion to the event, and that enthusiasm is infectious.
How do you get to Maryborough?
Maryborough sits just off the Bruce Highway, approximately 260 kilometres north of Brisbane — a comfortable three-hour drive. Queensland Rail operates regular daily services from Brisbane, Rockhampton and Cairns, stopping at Maryborough West station. Greyhound and Premier coach services also connect the city with Brisbane and other regional centres. Queens Park is centrally located within Maryborough and straightforward to find once you arrive in town. Browse and click through to local operator websites for accommodation and tour options to help plan your visit around a Sunday in the Park.