Mapleton, Queensland
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Mapleton Sunshine Coast, Queensland |
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| Population | 1,439 (2011 census) | ||||||||||||||
| Postcode(s) | 4560 | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 113 km (70 mi) from Brisbane | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | Sunshine Coast | ||||||||||||||
| State electorate(s) | Nicklin | ||||||||||||||
| Federal Division(s) | Fairfax | ||||||||||||||
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Mapleton is a small town in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland. It includes the Lilyponds, the Mapleton Tavern and historic Seaview House (St Isidore's Farm College), and is well known for its 180 degree panoramic views of the Sunshine Coast.
The town is located high on the Blackall Range, 10 minutes drive from Nambour, 25 minutes from Maleny and 30 minutes from Maroochydore. At the 2011 Australian Census the town recorded a population of 1,439.
Early settlers of the area grew fruit, vegetables and ceral crops. The first timber cutters extracted red cedar and beech timber taking it to Nambour. Initially the settlement was known as Luton Vale until 1899 when the name was changed after the English town.
In 1906 the road from the Mary Valley to Mapleton was complete. By 1909 a sawmill was operating in the town. It closed in 1972. From 1915 through until 1944, Mapleton was served by a 2 ft (610 mm) gauge tramway which ran nearly 18 kilometres from Nambour. It was worked by two shay locomotives. Pineapples, dairying and small crops were the towns major industries until the late 1950s. The scenic beauty of the area has allowed tourism to dominate in the decades since.
Mapleton has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
Mapleton has many community services, associations and clubs including the Mapleton & District Community Associations (MADCA), a bowls club and community gym, the Mapleton Community Library which is run by volunteer staff, a tourist information and arts centre, a choir, tennis club, kindergarten and rural fire service and post office. There is also a medical centre which provides primary health care for the community.
The Mapleton State Primary School was 100 years old in 1999 and caters for around 200 local children. The school grounds are large and include Baxters Creek and a new covered multi-purpose area, administration offices and resource centre which opened in December 2009. The school is home to the Mapleton Observatory.
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