Geology The was formed over 200 million years of constant interaction by volcanoes and water which left behind a mass of hills, valleys and waterfalls. Mapleton has extensive areas of red basalt soil, the result of volcanic activity south west Mapleton of Maleny between 31 and 27 million years ago. The red soils are clearly visible throughout the Village and along Flaxton Drive.

There are grey cracking clays and grey decomposed sandstone soils which resulted from volcanic action to the north. ‘Memories of Old Mapleton’ Artist Keith Blake Timber Industry Much of the Blackall Range was gazetted as a Mapleton is a picturesque village on the northern end timber reserve in 1882. Mapleton National Park of the scenic Blackall Range, 402m above sea level was originally two timber reserves which were in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. managed separately as hardwood forests. They were selectively logged until the mid 1990s. The original The Blackall Range was named in 1874 after Sir timber cutters searched for red cedar (Toona ciliata), Samuel Blackall, Governor of . beech (Gmelina leichhardtii), hoop (Araucaria cunninghamii) and bunya pine. The timber industry Brothers William and Thomas Smith from Redland was vital for the survival of the early Village (note Bay were pioneers of the area, walking west from Sawmills over page). Timber came from blackbutt and selecting land in 1889. More settlers (Eucalyptus pilularis), brush box (Lophostemon and their families arrived, clearing land for farming confertus), flooded gum/rose gum Eucalyptus( and cutting timber. grandis), grey gum (Eucalyptus punctata), red stringybark (Eucalyptus resinifera), mountain The small settlement was known originally as turpentine (Syncarpia glomulifera) and iron bark Blackall Range, then as Lutonvale. In 1894 at the and bloodwood species. There is still some evidence suggestion of William Smith the area was officially of cross-cut saw and springboard harvesting in named Mapleton. He had read about ‘a pretty little the forest. Magnificent stands of blackbutt exist in place on top of a hill named Mapleton in England’. Mapleton National Park.

Bunya Pine () grew extensively Mapleton quickly became a leading citrus growing area, reaching peak production in the early 1900s. A beautiful place to walk, relax and on the Blackall Range. Aborigines from surrounding enjoy the outstanding views. areas gathered for feasts of roasted bunya nuts. There was a timber industry and sawmills. By the 1930s the citrus industry had collapsed due to the Bunya pines grow in the school grounds in Obi Obi This brochure presents history, things Road and in front of Mapleton Hall. Specimens can Depression and insect infestation, and Mapleton to do and organisations of interest. be observed as you travel west along Obi Obi Road farming changed to dairying, pineapples and small towards Kenilworth and east towards Nambour. crops. By the 21st century, tourism and niche farming had become important industries.

Mapleton and District Community Association www.mapletonqueensland.com

Proudly supported by Sunshine Coast Council’s Grant Program

Front image: Lilyponds Photographer: Nita C Lester AM GH GH NCL GH

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and crosses Skene Creek on a suspension bridge. suspension a on Creek Skene crosses and

Kondalilla Falls Circuit (4.7km) winds its way below below way its winds (4.7km) Circuit Falls Kondalilla

walk (1.7km) leads to the swimming hole and the the and hole swimming the to leads (1.7km) walk

from Kondalilla Falls Road. Picnic Creek Circuit Circuit Creek Picnic Road. Falls Kondalilla from

seen on the Great Walk and can also be accessed accessed be also can and Walk Great the on seen

trees.

is aboriginal for ‘rushing water’. The falls can be be can falls The water’. ‘rushing for aboriginal is

orchids, fungi, rare flowering shrubs and fruiting fruiting and shrubs flowering rare fungi, orchids,

90m from a popular swimming hole. Kondalilla Kondalilla hole. swimming popular a from 90m

species. The different seasons embrace native native embrace seasons different The species.

Mapleton Falls Road. Road. Falls Mapleton is part of Skene Creek and falls falls and Creek Skene of part is Falls Kondalilla

Flora varies from the native to the exotic garden garden exotic the to native the from varies Flora

car park, picnic tables and toilets are at the end of of end the at are toilets and tables picnic park, car

eucalypts and bunyas can be enjoyed. The Falls Falls The enjoyed. be can bunyas and eucalypts campsite is in this park. this in is campsite

national parks. national

accessible. Extensive views of the Obi Obi Valley, Valley, Obi Obi the of views Extensive accessible. the two entrances. Flaxton Walkers backpackers backpackers Walkers Flaxton entrances. two the

quietly at The Lilyponds, walking the village or the the or village the walking Lilyponds, The at quietly

tree near the lookout platform which is wheelchair wheelchair is which platform lookout the near tree Baroon, Montville. A 12km walking track connects connects track walking 12km A Montville. Baroon,

itting itting s while sighted be can Many invertebrates.

was taken down in the 1920s. A spike remains in a a in remains spike A 1920s. the in down taken was Road which leads to the northern edge of Lake Lake of edge northern the to leads which Road

birds and and birds hibian, amp reptile, wallaby, echidna,

fox that suspended a cage above the falls. This This falls. the above cage a suspended that fox the Kondalilla Falls Road entrance and at Narrows Narrows at and entrance Road Falls Kondalilla the

Mapleton boasts numerous fauna species including including species fauna numerous boasts Mapleton

1917, Thomas Smith built a 160 foot (50m) flying flying (50m) foot 160 a built Smith Thomas 1917, the Park. Picnic facilities and toilets are situated at at situated are toilets and facilities Picnic Park. the

Flora and Fauna and Flora

black basalt and tessellated rocks can be seen. In In seen. be can rocks tessellated and basalt black times. Skene Creek and Obi Obi Creek flow through through flow Creek Obi Obi and Creek Skene times.

Creek, which joins the Mary River. The cliffs are are cliffs The River. Mary the joins which Creek, National Park in 1945 and has been extended many many extended been has and 1945 in Park National

Mapleton National Park Day Use Area. Use Day Park National Mapleton

where Pencil Creek drops 120m to join Obi Obi Obi Obi join to 120m drops Creek Pencil where small recreation reserve in 1906, was gazetted as a a as gazetted was 1906, in reserve recreation small

on the 8.5km Kureelpa Falls circuit walk from the the from walk circuit Falls Kureelpa 8.5km the on

originally called Baroon Falls is is Falls Baroon called originally , Falls Mapleton , began as a a as began , Flaxton Park, National Kondalilla

South . The falls can be sighted sighted be can falls The River. Maroochy South

is in a spectacular gorge of the the of gorge spectacular a in is Falls Kureelpa

Daymar Road (foot only). (foot Road Daymar Kenilworth Road. Kenilworth

park can be accessed from Mapleton Falls Road and and Road Falls Mapleton from accessed be can park from Mapleton, Yandina, and from the Eumundi/ the from and Yandina, Mapleton, from or Suses Pocket Road (2km) off Obi Obi Road. Obi Obi off (2km) Road Pocket Suses or

rainforest. Peregrine falcon may be sighted. The The sighted. be may falcon Peregrine rainforest. facilities and toilets. The park can be accessed accessed be can park The toilets. and facilities Baxter Creek. Access is from Flaxton Mill Road (2km) (2km) Road Mill Flaxton from is Access Creek. Baxter

from the lookout and winds through eucalypts and and eucalypts through winds and lookout the from and Thilba Thalba. The Day Use Area has picnic picnic has Area Use Day The Thalba. Thilba and Great Walk near a metal suspension bridge crossing crossing bridge suspension metal a near Walk Great

Park in 1975. The 1.3km Wompoo Circuit walk starts starts walk Circuit Wompoo 1.3km The 1975. in Park is on a short sidewalk from the the from sidewalk short a on is Falls Creek Baxter backpackers campsites, Ubajee Ubajee campsites, backpackers two and track bike

became a recreation reserve in 1893 and a National National a and 1893 in reserve recreation a became There are 85km of horse riding trails,a 26km trail trail 26km trails,a riding horse of 85km are There

, covering 26ha, 26ha, covering , Park National Falls Mapleton

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(2.5km return) are accessed from Delicia Road. Delicia from accessed are return) (2.5km

Information Centre. Information Garrett Circuit (700m return) and Falls Falls Gheerulla and return) (700m Circuit Garrett

Walk map can be purchased from the Mapleton Mapleton the from purchased be can map Walk return) starts from Leafy Lane trailhead. The Linda Linda The trailhead. Lane Leafy from starts return)

several walks from two to seven hours. The Great Great The hours. seven to two from walks several Day Use Area. A short Pilularis Forest Walk (400m (400m Walk Forest Pilularis short A Area. Use Day

to be discovered on this 58km walk. There are are There walk. 58km this on discovered be to (6.7km) and Kureelpa Falls (8.5km) start from the the from start (8.5km) Falls Kureelpa and (6.7km)

scarred landscapes are some of the natural wonders wonders natural the of some are landscapes scarred the Turpentine Trail (7.8km return), Piccabeen Circuit Circuit Piccabeen return), (7.8km Trail Turpentine the

Towering bunyas, rushing waterfalls and rugged, rugged, and waterfalls rushing bunyas, Towering of the Great Walk. Several shorter walks including including walks shorter Several Walk. Great the of

Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk Great Hinterland Coast Sunshine Environment Day 5 June 2011. It contains about half half about contains It 2011. June 5 Day Environment people and means ‘dry or empty creek’. creek’. empty or ‘dry means and people

and was gazetted as a National Park on World World on Park National a as gazetted was and of the Waka Waka the of nulla kirar words the of contraction a

www.npsr.qld.gov.au Cooloolabin (Timber) Reserves, covers 10,426ha 10,426ha covers Reserves, (Timber) Cooloolabin also be accessed from Delicia Road. Gheerulla is is Gheerulla Road. Delicia from accessed be also

is on the Great Walk and can can and Walk Great the on is Falls Gheerulla Great Walk, National Parks, Walks, Waterfalls Walks, Parks, National Walk, Great formerly Mapleton and and Mapleton formerly Park, National Mapleton