About early Maleny

Prior to European settlement the Blackall Range area was occupied by the Bonyi Bonyi peopl, the Gubbi Gubbi or even the Kabi Kabi people), who once gathered at Baroon Pocket, on the banks of the Obi Obi River, to feast on Bunya nuts.

The beautiful rainforest that once covered the Blackall Range was also a treasure to the local white people, albeit a more economic one.    Evidence of the area’s reliance on timbergetting is evident in the naming scheme chosen for Maleny’s streets, including Maple, Myrtle, Cedar, while Macadamia Drive reflects the local cultivation of that much valued nut, otherwise known, north of the border, as the Queensland Nut.

Dairy farming (predominantly with fresians) is also important to the local economy, along with fruit cultivation and small crops.

As far as can be determined the first European in the Maleny area was Ludwig Leichhardt who seemed to be describing the Blackall Ranges when he wrote a letter in 1844 which said:   ‘There is a little valley, an open plain, in the midst of these brushes which cover perhaps, an extent of 50 miles long and 10 miles broad.

This plain they call Booroon and it seems the rendezvous for fights between the hostile tribes who come from near and far to enjoy the harvest of the Bunya’.

Timber-getters moved into the area.    By the early 1870s there was a blacksmith, a number of teamsters and a timber mill.    A settlement was beginning to form.

The first selection of land at the present site of Maleny was made by Isaac Burgess on 13 November 1878.    Slowly the land was cleared and dairy and beef cattle were brought into the area to feed on the rich grasses which were produced by a generous annual rainfall (2056 mm) which soaked the rich red volcanic soils of the range.

It is likely that the town name, Maleny is a misspelt version of a tiny Scottish hamlet named Malleny.

There can be little doubt that the Blackall Range constitutes one of the most interesting and dramatic mountain terrains in Queensland.

 

Scenes from early Maleny

		Photo left shows a block of land at the corner of Myrtle Street and Miva Street, Maleny in 1945.   The photo shows a typical backyard of the day - cow bails, wood heap, "chook house" and most likely there was a "vegie" garden nearby.
Photo right shows timber truck in front of Barker's Chemist Shop.   McLean's Bakery is in the background.   To bring to relevance, Maleny Matriarch, Peg Burnet was a McLean.   It was where Maleny Chemist stands today. The bakery burnt down in 1952 with the Maleny School of Arts. The truck was owned by Sallaway Brothers Transport.
Barker's Chemist Shop, Maple Street, Maleny.   This shop is the same shop that today is Maleny Newsagency.   Some changes along the way - eh!
Overlooking Maleny township.   This photo is looking from the hill in Teak Street towards Maleny township. Myers and Hurst's building towards the left of the photo stands where the Boxsell Building is today.