Australians pronounce this word `marone' (to rhyme with `moan'), rather than `maroon' (to rhyme with `moon').

I think this may be another example of Australian English preserving a feature of early 19th century English that has disappeared in most other varieties. When I first arrived in Australia I was charmed to hear children say `You're gammoning me' in a way that elsewhere only appears in Georgette Heyer novels.