Not only is the town of
Maryborough on the
Fraser Coast famous for the birthplace of "
Mary Poppins" author, Helen Lyndon Goff (
pen name P.L. Travers), it is also famous for promoting its tourism of everything "Mary", which includes the annual
Mary Poppins Festival.
Mary Delicious, well known for Devonshire Teas and Homemade Fudge
has moved from its original site at the
Engineer's Arms Hotel at the Fiveways to its current site on the corner of Richmond and Kent Streets. Well known for delicious homemade fudge with free tasting, Mary Delicious has an array of flavours including Lemon Meringue, Liquorice Allsorts (my favourite), Caramel, Double Chocolate, Rum and Raisin, Choc Mint, Jaffa, Gluten Free just to name a few and they now cater for diabetics with their new sucrose free diabetic chocolate and top deck fudge. Fudge starts from $5.50 per 500g.
Homemade Fudge in many varieties
The shop also stocks speciality chocolates, ice-cream, milk and thick shakes, Dutch Liquorice, English Confectionery and caters for light lunches, Devonshire teas and of course coffee.
All types of Liquorice including Dutch Liquorice
Open seven days a week from 9.00 Monday to Friday and 10.00 on Saturday and Sunday, Mary Delicious caters for large and small groups of patronage with many tour coach companies booking in advance. Individual tables are set up inside in the air-conditioned shop, as well tables in the adjacent leafy courtyard. Something you do not see much these days is China Salt and Pepper Shakers. A quaint touch to each inside table is a pair of shakers in unique styles.
Collective salt and pepper shakers on tables
A choice of apricot, strawberry and ginger jam accompanies a large serving of Devonshire Tea. Priced at $7.50 you can choose from plain or macadamia scones. The macadamia scone was different and very moorish to devour.
Try the macadamia scones
A variety of 'Streets' Ice-cream flavours looked so inviting that it didn't matter that it was a winter's day. Starting price from $4.00 a cone for one scoop, through to three scoops for just $7.00. Coffee and Tea in a cup is $3.50 or a mug size for $4.00.
Gluten Free patrons catered
Proprietor Rebecca Sinclair is constantly sourcing candy from past years many of which have for some reason disappeared from our grocery shelves or ones we can remember being our favourites as a child. Spearmint leaves is one variety which are no longer found easily in the main grocery aisles, yet can be purchased from 'Mary Delicious'. A childhood favourite of mine was the
"Choo Choo Bar" which is also available at 'Mary Delicious'.
A welcoming face at the door
So whether you are locals, tourists and groups wanting something a little different, 'Mary Delicious' can cater for everyone. Groups of any size are welcome, however group bookings are essential.
