Blackall Range Road Network

Blackall Range road network is a group of roads that provide access to the mountain localities and towns from various lowland places, and enable travel between the mountain communities. The network ensures continuity of access in times of flooding or other natural disasters, and during planned maintenance activities. The area serviced by the network includes the localities and towns, from south to north, of Maleny, Montville and Mapleton. It also includes the rural localities of Bald Knob, Balmoral Ridge, Flaxton, Gheerulla, North Maleny, Obi Obi and Witta. The area hosts a substantial residential community plus many tourism accommodation venues. At the , the locality of Maleny had a population of 3,959 people.

Located to the west of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, the Blackall Range is also a popular day-trip destination.

Roads in the network

The network consists of the following state-controlled roads:

A number of local roads that also access the range are not included in this article.

Landsborough–Maleny Road

Landsborough–Maleny Road is a state-controlled district road (number 494). It carries traffic from on the Glass House Mountains Road, via Bald Knob, to Maleny, a distance of . Almost all of this road is part of Tourist Drive 23.

The road runs generally north-west from Landsborough, ascending the south-eastern slope of the Blackall Range. It climbs from a lowest point of to a highest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Major intersections (Landsborough-Maleny Road)

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

Maleny–Kenilworth Road

Maleny–Kenilworth Road is a state-controlled district road (number 495). It runs from Maleny, via Witta, and , to , a distance of . This road is part of Tourist Drive 22.

The road descends the south-western slope of the Blackall Range and then follows the Mary River valley north to Kenilworth. It descends from a highest point of to a lowest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

A project to widen sections of the road in Conondale and Cambroon, at a cost of $4.9 million, was expected to complete late in 2022.

Major intersections (Maleny–Kenilworth Road)

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

Maleny–Montville Road

Maleny–Montville Road is a state-controlled district road (number 497), rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS) It runs from Maleny, via Balmoral Ridge, to Montville, a distance of . Within the locality of Montville this road is known as Balmoral Road. It is part of Tourist Drive 23. There are no major intersections on this road.

The road runs from south to north along the eastern edge of the Blackall Range. Its elevation varies from a highest point of to a lowest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Maleny–Stanley River Road

Maleny–Stanley River Road is a state-controlled district road (number 493) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from the Maleny–Kenilworth Road in Maleny, via and , to the Kilcoy–Beerwah Road in , a distance of . The first section of this road, within the locality of Maleny, is part of Tourist Drive 23.

The roads runs down a ridge to the south-west of Maleny, crosses the headwaters of the Stanley River, then turns south-east and ascends a ridge of the Conondale Range to Peachester. Its elevation varies from a highest point of to a lowest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Major intersections (Maleny–Stanley River Road)

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

Montville–Mapleton Road

Montville–Mapleton Road is a state-controlled district road (number 499) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from Maleny–Montville Road in Montville, via Flaxton, to Nambour–Mapleton Road in Mapleton, a distance of . This road is also known as Flaxton Drive. It is part of Tourist Drive 23.

The road runs from south to north along the eastern edge of the Blackall Range. Its elevation varies from a highest point of to a lowest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Major intersections (Montville–Mapleton Road)

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

Nambour–Mapleton Road

Nambour–Mapleton Road is a state-controlled district road (number 496) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from the Nambour Connection Road in , via and , to Montville–Mapleton Road in Mapleton, a distance of .

The road runs generally west from Nambour, ascending the north-eastern slope of the Blackall Range. It climbs from a lowest point of to a highest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Major intersections (Nambour–Mapleton Road)

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

Obi Obi Road

Obi Obi Road is a state-controlled district road (number 4962) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from Montville–Mapleton Road in Mapleton, via Obi Obi and , to Eumundi–Kenilworth Road in Kenilworth, a distance of . There are no major intersections on this road.

The road descends the north-western slope of the Blackall Range and then follows the valley of Obi Obi Creek north-west to Kenilworth. It descends from a highest point of to a lowest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Part of this road is split between uphill and downhill sections. The downhill section is mostly unsealed.

Woombye–Montville Road

Woombye–Montville Road is a state-controlled district road (number 498) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from the Nambour Connection Road in , via , to Maleny–Montville Road in Montville, a distance of . This road is also known as Woombye–Palmwoods Road and Palmwoods–Montville Road.

The road runs generally south-west from Woombye, passing through Palmwwoods and following the valley of Paynter Creek to the foot of the eastern escarpment of the Blackall Range, which it ascends by a circuitous route. It climbs from a lowest point of to a highest point of . About is steeper than 5%, of which is between 10% and 15%, and is greater than 15%.

Major intersections (Woombye–Montville Road)

All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.

Tourist Drive 23

Tourist Drive 23 follows Landsborough–Maleny Road until it reaches an intersection with Mountain View Road as it enters Maleny. Here it turns south-west and continues in a generally west direction until it reaches an intersection with Maleny–Stanley River Road, where it turns north. It continues north until it reaches an intersection with Landsborough–Maleny Road (to the east) and Maleny–Kenilworth Road (to the north-west). Here it turns east and continues through the Maleny CBD and on until it reaches an intersection with Maleny–Montville Road.

Turning north it follows Maleny–Montville Road, Montville–Mapleton Road, and Nambour–Mapleton Road to its end in Nambour. Tourist Drive 23 continues across the Nambour Connection Road onto Nambour–Bli Bli Road, which it follows to the Bruce Highway.

History

A track linking Landsborough to Maleny was cut in 1880.

By 1922, "good" roads existed from Landsborough to Maleny and from Nambour to Mapleton and on to Montville. Plans were in hand to link Maleny to Montville and to build a new "first-class" road from Palmwoods to Montville.

Notes

References

{{Road infrastructure in Queensland

Roads in Queensland