The Mortuary Spire

Designed by architect Willoughby Powell and built in 1883, the mortuary chapel at Maryborough Cemetery stands as a rare and enduring piece of Queensland timber craftsmanship. Standing beneath its spire, I am struck by the quiet dignity in every weathered board, crisp chevron, and hooded louver. Rendered in monochrome, the interplay of light and deep shadow transcends time—revealing the pure geometry of a nineteenth-century sentinel that has offered shelter and solace for over 140 years.