Maleny, Queensland
Encyclopedia
Maleny is a small, scenic town 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) north of Brisbane
on the Blackall Range
overlooking the Sunshine Coast
hinterland in Queensland
, Australia
. Nearby towns include Landsborough
, Montville
and Peachester
. Nearby places of geographical significance include the Glass House Mountains and Baroon Pocket Dam
.
The town hosts the Maleny Wood Expo From Chainsaw to Fine Furniture each year, hosted by Barung Landcare and showcases the regions finest wood artisans.
.
The first European to document Maleny was the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt
who describes the area in his travel diary in 1844. The first European settlement followed in the wake of the Gympie
gold rush of 1867. A track linking Maleny to Landsborough was cut in 1880.
An official proclamation of Maleny as a town occurred in 1891. The Maleny Butter Factory began operation in 1904. Maleny was a timber town until the early 1920s and then was a centre of dairy production and fruit growing. Although a campaign to have a police station in the town was started in the 1920s it wasn't until 1952 that permission to convert a house into the current police station and residence was granted.
For one hundred years, the Maleny Community Centre has provided facilities to residents and visitors for a wide range of activities. Located in the middle of town, the original centre was established just after the turn of the 20th century, the result of a gift by one of its residents.
and the Sunshine Coast
who are attracted to the various stores, art galleries and specialty shops.
Maleny's population growth, in the last decade, has brought an increase in urban development. Many local residents have resisted some of the development, the most notable being the establishment of a Woolworths
store in the town. In July 2005, a rally attracted about 300 protestors objecting to the store. Many locals were opposed to the idea (79% of local residents opposed according to "Market Facts" survey 20/07/05). A number of motivations for the protest existed but of particular concern was that the supermarket was to be built over a significant platypus
habitat and that local traders would be negatively affected. Despite protests and an offer to purchase the site for A$2 million (pledged by local residents) the supermarket opened on 3 April 2006. Badges and posters reading "I WON'T SHOP THERE" are seen in Maleny as part of the anti-Woolworths campaign. These events have been documented by national media and have spawned a website and magazine as well as an action group.
enterprises. There are art galleries, health food and organic produce stores, cafes, a co-op credit union, thriving business centre, rural settlements, alternative schools, alternative medical treatment, organic farming, intentional communities including the internationally award-winning Crystal Waters Permaculture Village
.
Maleny hosted the Maleny Folk Festival from its inception in 1987 to 1993, when it was moved to the nearby town of Woodford
and renamed to the Woodford Folk Festival
.
constructed in 1989 is fed by the Obi Obi Creek, a significant tributary of the upper Mary River
, which drains the basalt capped Maleny plateau. Water runoff statistics have been kept in this area since the 1940s showing that the average annual rainfall is 2037 millimetres (80.2 in) and the runoff into Baroon Pocket Dam receives annually about 64,000ML. Since its construction the dam has become an important recreation area for the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The Baroon Pocket Dam holds about 61,000 megalitres of water and the treatment plant supplies about 150 megalitres of treated water to the Sunshine Coast daily. There is a sailing club, naval cadet unit, fishing club, secluded accommodation, and picnic facilities.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on the Blackall Range
Blackall Range
The Blackall Range is a mountain range in South East Queensland, Australia. The first European explorer in the area was Ludwig Leichhardt. It was named after Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland....
overlooking the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
hinterland in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Nearby towns include Landsborough
Landsborough, Queensland
Landsborough is a small town on the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. It is situated north of the Glasshouse Mountains just off Steve Irwin Way, 82 km north of Brisbane...
, Montville
Montville, Queensland
Montville is a small town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, on the Blackall Range in Queensland, Australia, around 400 metres above sea level. At the 2006 census, Montville and the surrounding area had a population of 853.-Early settlement:...
and Peachester
Peachester, Queensland
Peachester is a small town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 census, Peachester had a population of 452.-External links:*...
. Nearby places of geographical significance include the Glass House Mountains and Baroon Pocket Dam
Baroon Pocket Dam
Lake Baroon is formed by Baroon Pocket Dam, a dam constructed in 1988 on Obi Obi Creek, in South East Queensland. The two smaller creeks, Bridge Creek and Forbes Creek also provide inflows to the dam. The reservoir has a surface area of 400 ha, an average depth of 15 metres and holds some 60 000 ML...
.
The town hosts the Maleny Wood Expo From Chainsaw to Fine Furniture each year, hosted by Barung Landcare and showcases the regions finest wood artisans.
Geography
Situated approximately 450 metres (1,476.4 ft) above sea level, Maleny has a sub-tropical climate with cool clear winters and warm wet summers. A high annual rainfall approaching 1800 millimetres (70.9 in) gives rise to the characteristic green rolling hills. Prior to European settlement, the area was covered in thick sub-tropical rainforest with huge hardwood trees. Timber-getters in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries opened up the area seeking valuable timber, which was prized locally and in Europe. Heavy logging led to the almost complete denuding of the rainforest clad hills in the district around Maleny. Pockets of forest remain in steeper terrain and in one large remnant patch (around 40 Hectares or 100 Acres) which now forms Mary Cairncross ReserveMary Cairncross Reserve
The Mary Cairncross Reserve is a conservation park located on the Blackall Range east of Maleny, Australia. Maleny is approximately north of Brisbane and west of Caloundra...
.
History
The area around Maleny was originally populated by two aboriginal groups, the Nalbo people and the Dallambara group. The area was known for its bunya feasts which happened every third year when the giant bunya tree was in fruit.The first European to document Maleny was the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt
Ludwig Leichhardt
Friedrich Wilhelm Ludwig Leichhardt, known as Ludwig Leichhardt, was a Prussian explorer and naturalist, most famous for his exploration of northern and central Australia.-Early life:...
who describes the area in his travel diary in 1844. The first European settlement followed in the wake of the Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
gold rush of 1867. A track linking Maleny to Landsborough was cut in 1880.
An official proclamation of Maleny as a town occurred in 1891. The Maleny Butter Factory began operation in 1904. Maleny was a timber town until the early 1920s and then was a centre of dairy production and fruit growing. Although a campaign to have a police station in the town was started in the 1920s it wasn't until 1952 that permission to convert a house into the current police station and residence was granted.
For one hundred years, the Maleny Community Centre has provided facilities to residents and visitors for a wide range of activities. Located in the middle of town, the original centre was established just after the turn of the 20th century, the result of a gift by one of its residents.
Tourism
Maleny has replaced its timber-cutting and dairying past with tourism with a large influx of people who wanted an alternative lifestyle. As well as being on the Hinterland tourist drive, Maleny attracts day trippers from BrisbaneBrisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
and the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
who are attracted to the various stores, art galleries and specialty shops.
Development and protests
Maleny Community Centre is a fully community-owned centre, completed Stage 1 of a three Stage redevelopment in 2010. Fundraising is in progress for Stage 2 to rebuild the Maple Street frontage and renovate the 100yr old building into two storeys featuring an Queensland-style verandah over the footpath, giving much needed shelter on the main street. The Third Stage comprises the building of a new cultural centre on the MCC's second building at No:1 Bicentenary Lane.Maleny's population growth, in the last decade, has brought an increase in urban development. Many local residents have resisted some of the development, the most notable being the establishment of a Woolworths
Woolworths Limited
Woolworths Limited is a major Australian company with extensive retail interest throughout Australia and New Zealand. It is the:* largest retail company in Australia and New Zealand by market capitalisation and sales...
store in the town. In July 2005, a rally attracted about 300 protestors objecting to the store. Many locals were opposed to the idea (79% of local residents opposed according to "Market Facts" survey 20/07/05). A number of motivations for the protest existed but of particular concern was that the supermarket was to be built over a significant platypus
Platypus
The platypus is a semi-aquatic mammal endemic to eastern Australia, including Tasmania. Together with the four species of echidna, it is one of the five extant species of monotremes, the only mammals that lay eggs instead of giving birth to live young...
habitat and that local traders would be negatively affected. Despite protests and an offer to purchase the site for A$2 million (pledged by local residents) the supermarket opened on 3 April 2006. Badges and posters reading "I WON'T SHOP THERE" are seen in Maleny as part of the anti-Woolworths campaign. These events have been documented by national media and have spawned a website and magazine as well as an action group.
Attractions
Maleny is home to a large number of cooperativeCooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
enterprises. There are art galleries, health food and organic produce stores, cafes, a co-op credit union, thriving business centre, rural settlements, alternative schools, alternative medical treatment, organic farming, intentional communities including the internationally award-winning Crystal Waters Permaculture Village
Crystal Waters, Queensland
Crystal Waters is a village situated in the Sunshine Coast hinterland of Queensland, Australia....
.
Maleny hosted the Maleny Folk Festival from its inception in 1987 to 1993, when it was moved to the nearby town of Woodford
Woodford, Queensland
Woodford is a small town in Queensland, Australia, on the D'Aguilar Highway 72 km north-west of Brisbane and 24 km west of Caboolture. Its Local Government Area is the Moreton Bay Region. The town is noted for its folk festival that takes place over the New Year holidays. The Woodford...
and renamed to the Woodford Folk Festival
Woodford Folk Festival
The Woodford Folk Festival is an annual music festival held near the small country town of Woodford, 72 km north of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is one of the biggest annual cultural events of its type in Australia....
.
Baroon Pocket Dam
Baroon Pocket DamBaroon Pocket Dam
Lake Baroon is formed by Baroon Pocket Dam, a dam constructed in 1988 on Obi Obi Creek, in South East Queensland. The two smaller creeks, Bridge Creek and Forbes Creek also provide inflows to the dam. The reservoir has a surface area of 400 ha, an average depth of 15 metres and holds some 60 000 ML...
constructed in 1989 is fed by the Obi Obi Creek, a significant tributary of the upper Mary River
Mary River (Queensland)
The Mary River is a river system in South East Queensland, Australia. The river rises at Booroobin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, west of Landsborough...
, which drains the basalt capped Maleny plateau. Water runoff statistics have been kept in this area since the 1940s showing that the average annual rainfall is 2037 millimetres (80.2 in) and the runoff into Baroon Pocket Dam receives annually about 64,000ML. Since its construction the dam has become an important recreation area for the Sunshine Coast hinterland. The Baroon Pocket Dam holds about 61,000 megalitres of water and the treatment plant supplies about 150 megalitres of treated water to the Sunshine Coast daily. There is a sailing club, naval cadet unit, fishing club, secluded accommodation, and picnic facilities.