"Mary Poppins House" Allora

We have been to Allora many times as it is a beautiful historic town, and we always take photos of "Mary Poppin's House", as it has always been closed. During the 150th celebrations it was open and we spent a few hours there talking to the lovely owners and the volunteer guides. Entry includes a self guided tour map.

The author of Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, lived here after her family moved from Maryborough to Allora in 1905. Born Helen Lyndon Goff, she lived and played here and many say her ideas for the Mary Poppins novels were based on her memories of this house. This is the entry to the original residential section of the house.

The home was built in 1879, and became the original bank and residence of the Australian Joint Stock Bank which was established in Allora in 1880, and was originally run from the Dalrymple Hotel. Entry to the bank section of the building is on the right, and this is where we start the self guided tour. It is now a sitting room.

Here one can see the original vault door.

As this was the original bank, the cedar bank counter that was across the centre of the room has been dismantled and now forms part of the paneling on one wall.

The vault has been left unrestored, and the door weighs 2 tons. It was very heavy to open, but still works well.

The vault is used as storage for many interesting old items, including a hand cranked sewing machine.

Behind the public bank area is the bank managers office. Again there was a lot of cedar. This room leads to the hallway and the residence section of the house. Travers Goff was the third bank manager.

This was the original main bedroom of the house, with the nursery off to the side. This was where Travers Goff passed away in 1907. This room was featured in the movie 'Saving Mr Banks.'

The restored nursery.

 As was the custom, the kitchen was located in a separate building at the rear. A courtyard divided the house from the kitchen. In the courtyard is the original Isabella grapevine planted by Travers Goff. As depicted in the movie 'Saving Mr Banks' a small seedling was given to the family in Maryborough in 1905.

 This vine is over 100 years old. Here is one of the owners dressed as Mary Poppins, she told us more about the vine. Her husband told us all about the bank.

The kitchen has also been restored and the old world charm of the old fireplace has been kept, with more modern appliances at the other end.

 The yards have an old stable and lots of fruit trees. The owners have put in new driveways and a new dwelling at the back, although still use the old restored beautiful house.

The house has been beautifully restored and we were so lucky to find it open while we were there. Tours are by appointment only. If there is a special event on, as it was while we were there, it may be  open. Well worth a visit.

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Historic Allora

Allora is a historic town on the Darling Downs, not far from Clifton. The history of the town dates back to 1859. We visited Allora twice while we were staying at Clifton. The first time was after the RACQ Historic Car Display in Warwick and we took the inland road, rather than the highway, to visit the Jumpers and Jazz in July 'Meet the Makers' at the Allora RSL Club. Crafters had stalls set up. We did buy some hot chilli tomato sauce that was made locally at the Frog and Swallow Cafe. We were going to have late lunch at the cafe, but it was closing - maybe another time. We had a walk around the streets, some trees were decorated.

Allora is the town where author Helen Lyndon Goff (P.L.Travers of Mary Poppin's fame) spent some of her early years. On the corner of Herbert and Drayton Streets there is a monument to Mary Poppins.

A little further up Herbert Street is the house where Helen Goff lived with her family. Her father being a bank manager, this is the old bank building and residence, now known as Mary Poppins House.

The name Allora comes from the Aboriginal word meaning place of swamp. It was originally part of the Goomburra run originally owned by Ernest Dalrymple and Patrick Leslie.

Wayne Bennett, coach of the Broncos once lived in Allora.