Melba House, Marian

The legendary diva Dame Nellie Melba spent the first year of her married life in a small house right in the heart of the Pioneer Valley, in Marian. The house, built in 1882/83 and rescued from demolition by the Mirani Shire Council, was relocated from Marian Mill to a more prominent riverbank setting in Edward Lloyd Park. It now houses an accredited Visitor Information Centre, Melba Memorabilia display, an extensive array of local handmade gifts and souvenirs and Vintage Kiss Cafe (Cafe hours Tues-Fri 6am to 12.30pm/Sat-Sun 7.30am to 12.30pm). Lloyd Park stretches for one kilometre along the bank of the Pioneer River and features a walking path, children's playground, barbecue facilities, and the 'Hens & Roosters' toilet block as well as access to the river for fishing, swimming, canoeing and platypus spotting - or just sitting and contemplating the beauty of the 'blue water' river.