Maleny, Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maleny Queensland
Maleny Hotel, Bunya Street (2008)
Maleny Location in Queensland
Population	3,959 (2021 census)
• Density	159.0/km2 (412/sq mi)
Postcode(s)	4552
Elevation	425 m (1,394 ft)
Area	24.9 km2 (9.6 sq mi)
Time zone	AEST (UTC+10:00)
Location	31.0 km (19 mi) SW of Nambour 34.1 km (21 mi) W of Caloundra 40.8 km (25 mi) WSW of Maroochydore 91.6 km (57 mi) N of Brisbane
LGA(s)	Sunshine Coast Region
State electorate(s)	Glass House
Federal Division(s)	Fisher
Mean max temp Mean min temp Annual rainfall 23.2 °C 74 °F 14.2 °C 58 °F 2,000.8 mm 78.8 in
Localities around Maleny: Witta North Maleny Balmoral Ridge Reesville Maleny Bald Knob Wootha Crohamhurst Crohamhurst

Maleny from above, looking towards Lake Baroon.

Maleny from above, looking towards the hinterland.

Maleny (say muh-LAY-knee) is a small town in the Sunshine Coast Region of Queensland, Australia. It's a rural area, meaning it's mostly countryside. Maleny used to be a timber town, cutting down trees until the early 1920s. After that, it became known for making dairy products and growing fruit. In 2021, about 3,959 people lived in Maleny.

Discovering Maleny's Location

Maleny is located about 90 kilometers (56 miles) north of Brisbane, which is the capital city of Queensland. It sits on top of the Blackall Range, offering great views of the Sunshine Coast area.

Nearby Towns and Natural Spots

You'll find other towns close by, like Landsborough, Montville, and Palmwoods. Important natural places nearby include the Glass House Mountains and the Baroon Pocket Dam.

Baroon Pocket Dam: Maleny's Water Source

The Baroon Pocket Dam was built in 1989. It gets its water from the Obi Obi Creek, which flows into the Mary River. This dam is very important because it supplies about 150 million liters (about 40 million gallons) of treated water to the Sunshine Coast every day! The area gets a lot of rain, about 2037 millimeters (80 inches) each year.

Maleny's Green Hills and Forests

Maleny is about 450 meters (1,476 feet) above sea level. It's famous for its rolling green hills. A long time ago, this area was covered in thick rainforests with huge trees. Loggers came in the late 1800s and early 1900s to cut down these valuable trees. Because of this, most of the rainforest was cleared. Today, only small parts of the original forest remain, like the Mary Cairncross Reserve. This reserve is a special place where you can still see some of the old rainforest.

Roads Around Maleny

Several roads connect Maleny to other areas. The Landsborough–Maleny Road comes from the east. The Maleny–Montville Road goes to the north-east, and the Maleny–Kenilworth Road heads to the north-west. The Maleny–Stanley River Road goes to the south-west.

Maleny's Past: A Look Back in Time

Maleny's main street around 1922.

The name Maleny probably comes from a Scottish place called Malleny.

First People and Early Explorers

The land around Maleny was originally home to the Nalbo and Dallambara Aboriginal tribes. They were part of the Gubbi Gubbi language group. This area was known for special "bunya feasts" that happened every three years when the giant bunya trees had fruit.

The first European person to write about Maleny was an explorer named Ludwig Leichhardt in 1844. European settlers started arriving after gold was discovered in Gympie in 1867. A path connecting Maleny to Landsborough was made in 1880.

Growing as a Town

Maleny was officially declared a town in 1891. The Maleny Community Centre has been a place for people to gather since the early 1900s. The Maleny Butter Factory started in 1904, and the Maleny Post Office opened in 1906.

Schools in Maleny

Maleny Township State School opened on April 22, 1913, and later became Maleny State School. Maleny State High School opened much later, on January 27, 1987.

Community Groups and Buildings

The Maleny Baptist Church opened in 1914. The Maleny branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) started in 1929. This group helps women and communities in rural areas.

St George's Anglican Church was moved to Maleny and dedicated in 1931. It was originally a chapel for soldiers during World War I.

A police station was finally set up in Maleny in 1952, after people had asked for one since the 1920s.

The Maleny War Memorial in 2008.

The Maleny War Memorial was dedicated on August 15, 1995, to remember soldiers who served.

Festivals and Modern Changes

Maleny was once home to the Maleny Folk Festival from 1987 to 1993. It then moved and became the Woodford Folk Festival.

The Maleny Library opened in 1998 and was updated in 2012.

Community Protests and Development

Since 2000, Maleny has seen more new buildings. Some local residents have disagreed with certain developments. A big example was the plan to build a Woolworths supermarket. Many locals were against it, partly because it was planned for an area where platypus lived. They also worried it would harm local businesses and change the "village feel" of Maleny. Even though there were protests, the supermarket opened in 2006.

In 2013, people also protested against a new petrol station near the primary school. The company planning it decided not to go ahead because of the community's concerns.

In 2016, there was a proposal for a motorcycle race in the Maleny area. Residents formed a group called "Peaceful Roads Sunshine Coast" to protest. They were worried about safety, noise, and how it would affect the quiet tourism in the area. The race plan was eventually stopped in 2018.

Maleny Independent School

Maleny Independent School was a private high school that opened in 1918. It closed down in 2024.

Who Lives in Maleny?

In 2016, Maleny had a population of 3,734 people. By 2021, the number of people living in Maleny had grown to 3,959.

Special Places in Maleny

Maleny has some places that are listed as important heritage sites. These include:

• Fairview, at 15 Porter's Lane
• Maleny Lodge Guest House, at 58 Maple Street

Maleny's Economy and Community

The Maleny Hotel.

The Woolworths supermarket in Maleny.

Maleny has changed from a town focused on timber and dairy to one that attracts tourists. Many people who wanted a different way of life have moved here. Maleny is now part of a popular tourist drive. Day-trippers from Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast visit to see the unique shops, art galleries, and specialty stores.

Maleny is also known for its many cooperative businesses. These include art galleries, health food stores, organic produce shops, and cafes. There's also the Maleny Credit Union and a community golf course. The area has alternative schools, health centers, and organic farms. Some people live in "intentional communities" like the Crystal Waters Permaculture Village.

Education in Maleny

Maleny has several schools for different age groups.

Maleny State School

Maleny State School is a government primary school for students from Prep (the first year of school) to Year 6. It's located at 16 Bunya Street. In 2017, it had 409 students. The school also offers a special education program.

Ananda Marga River School

Ananda Marga River School, also known as The River School, is a private primary school for students from Prep to Year 6. It's at 251 Bridge Creek Road. In 2017, 126 students attended this school.

Maleny State High School

Maleny State High School is a government high school for students from Year 7 to Year 12. You can find it at 50 Bunya Street. In 2017, there were 705 students enrolled. This school also has a special education program.

What to Do and See in Maleny

Maleny offers various amenities and attractions for residents and visitors.

Churches in Maleny

The Anglican parish of Maleny is part of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane. There are also several other churches, including the Maleny Presbyterian Church, Maleny Uniting Church, and Maleny Baptist Church.

Maleny Library

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council runs a library at 5 Coral Street. It has a meeting room, free internet, and many books and magazines. The library also hosts programs for people of all ages.

Queensland Country Women's Association

The Maleny branch of the Queensland Country Women's Association (QCWA) meets at 1 Bicentenary Lane.

McCarthy Lookout

McCarthy Lookout is a great spot at 563 Mountain View Road. From here, you can see amazing views of the Glasshouse Mountains.

Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World

Even though it's called Maleny Botanic Gardens and Bird World, it's actually located in the nearby area of Wootha, at 233 Maleny Stanley River Road. It's a beautiful place to see plants and birds.

The Maleny Botanic Gardens.

Maleny's Weather

Maleny is one of the wettest towns in Queensland, especially outside of the far northern tropical coast. It gets about 2000 millimeters (79 inches) of rain each year on average. In very wet years, it can even get up to 4000 millimeters (157 inches)!

The temperatures in Maleny are usually mild. It rarely gets hotter than 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in summer or colder than 5 degrees Celsius (41 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter.

Famous People from Maleny

• Mike Ahern was a politician from Queensland who served as the Premier of Queensland from 1987 to 1989.