Maleny

Maleny (pronounced mah-lay-knee) is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.

Maleny (pronounced mah-lay-knee) is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, the locality of Maleny had a population of 3,734 people.

The name Maleny is probably derived from the parish name, which in turn is possibly derived from the Scottish place name Malleny, a village in Midlothian, Scotland.The area around Maleny was originally populated by the Nalbo and the Dallambara—two aboriginal tribes of the Gubbi Gubbi language 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 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.Since just after the turn of the 20th century, 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 as the result of a gift by one of its residents.The Maleny Butter Factory began operation in 1904.Maleny Post Office opened by February 1906 (a receiving office had been open from 1889).Maleny Township State School opened on 22 April 1913. In 1915 its name was changed to Maleny State School.Maleny was a timber town until the early 1920s and then was a centre of dairy production and fruit growing.The Maleny branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association was formed in 1929.St George's Anglican Church was dedicated on 6 September 1931 by Archbishop Sharp. It had been relocated from the Beerburrum Soldier Settlement where it was dedicated (also as St George's) on 20 August 1922 by Canon D.J. Garland, but it fell into disuse due to the failure of the settlement and was formally closed in August 1931 prior to its removal to Maleny. The building was originally built as a chapel at the Enoggera army barracks during World War I by the Soldiers' Church of England Help Society. Many of the furnishings and ornaments of the church were donated in memory of soldiers who had died, including the altar and its furnishings which were donated in the member of Earl Kitchener.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 police station and residence (in use until 2017) was granted.Maleny State High School opened 27 January 1987.

On 15 August 1995, the Queensland Governor Leneen Forde dedicated the Maleny War Memorial.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.The Maleny Library was opened in 1998 with a major refurbishment in 2012.Maleny's population growth since 2000 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 of 20 July 2005). 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 as well as issues regarding local council members going against the original town planning agreement regarding all development in Maleny to be in fitting with "the village environ" that characterises much of the townships of the Blackall Range. Badges and posters reading "I WON'T SHOP THERE" were seen in Maleny as part of the anti-Woolworths campaign, although the bumper stickers can now be seen in the Woolworths car park. The campaign against the supermarket achieved international coverage. Despite protests and an offer to purchase the site for A$2 million (pledged by local residents) the supermarket opened on 3 April 2006. Although many residents refuse to shop in the supermarket, nonetheless Woolworths recorded it as one of its top 30 stores in 2008.Maleny Community Centre is a fully community-owned centre, completed Stage 1 of a three Stage redevelopment in 2010.Stage 2 was completed in 2012 and included rebuilding the Maple Street frontage and renovating the 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. The Maleny Community Centre renovations (Stage 1 & 2) were designed by Maleny based building designer, Norman Richards building design + interiors and built by Maleny based builder Ross Meneely.At the 2011 census Maleny recorded a population of 3,441 people.In 2013 many residents protested the construction of a petrol station and convenience store at 19 & 21 Bunya St, Maleny by the IGA Supermarket. Protestors cited proximity to the primary school as the main issue with the development proposal. The proposal was abandoned by the owners of the IGA supermarket who said "We don't want to embroil our business in something that is controversial."In the 2016 census the locality of Maleny had a population of 3,734 people.In 2016 Sydney based advertising executive and author David Rollins proposed a "TT Style" motorcycle race for the Maleny area. Maleny residents formed a protest group to oppose this event called "Peaceful Roads Sunshine Coast." The group protested the event citing safety, noise and access issues of concern and that the event was not in keeping with the existing tourism activities in the area. The application was withdrawn in August 2018.In 2018, Jeanette Jamieson became the Anglican priest in charge of the Parish of Maleny, having previously served in the Parish of Kilcoy.

Located on the humid eastern slopes of the Blackall Range, Maleny is one of the wettest towns in Queensland away from the north tropical coast. The average annual rainfall is about 2,000 mm (79 in); however, during unusually wet years twelve-month rainfall totals of up to 4,000 mm (160 in) can be recorded, with monthly totals over 1,000 mm (39 in) and 24-hour totals up to 300 mm (12 in). Temperatures are mild and rarely get above 35 °C (95 °F) in summer or drop below 5 °C (41 °F) in winter.

McCarthy Lookout is at 563 Mountain View Road (26.7813°S 152.8420°E? / -26.7813; 152.8420? (McCarthy Lookout)). It provides views of the Glasshouse Mountains.Despite its name, Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World is at 233 Maleny Stanley River Road in neighbouring Wootha.