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.
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.
LandsboroughâÂÂMaleny 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%.
All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.
MalenyâÂÂKenilworth 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.
All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.
MalenyâÂÂMontville 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%.
MalenyâÂÂStanley River Road is a state-controlled district road (number 493) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from the MalenyâÂÂKenilworth Road in Maleny, via and , to the KilcoyâÂÂBeerwah 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%.
All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.
MontvilleâÂÂMapleton Road is a state-controlled district road (number 499) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from MalenyâÂÂMontville Road in Montville, via Flaxton, to NambourâÂÂMapleton 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%.
All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.
NambourâÂÂMapleton Road is a state-controlled district road (number 496) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from Nambour Connection Road to MontvilleâÂÂMapleton 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%.
All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.
Obi Obi Road is a state-controlled district road (number 4962) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from MontvilleâÂÂMapleton Road in Mapleton, via Obi Obi and , to EumundiâÂÂKenilworth 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.
WoombyeâÂÂMontville 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 MalenyâÂÂMontville Road in Montville, a distance of . This road is also known as WoombyeâÂÂPalmwoods Road and PalmwoodsâÂÂMontville Road.
The road runs generally south-west from Woombye, passing through Palmwwoods, where PalmwoodsâÂÂMooloolah Road exits to the south as Chevallum Road, 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%.
All distances are from Google Maps. The entire road is within the Sunshine Coast local government area.
PalmwoodsâÂÂMooloolah Road is a state-controlled district road (number 4981) rated as a local road of regional significance (LRRS). It runs from WoombyeâÂÂMontville Road in to Mooloolah Connection Road in , a distance of . This road is also known as Chevallum Road and Eudlo Road.
Tourist Drive 23 follows LandsboroughâÂÂMaleny 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 MalenyâÂÂStanley River Road, where it turns north. It continues north until it reaches an intersection with LandsboroughâÂÂMaleny Road (to the east) and MalenyâÂÂKenilworth Road (to the north-west). Here it turns east and continues through the Maleny CBD and on until it reaches an intersection with MalenyâÂÂMontville Road.
Turning north it follows MalenyâÂÂMontville Road, MontvilleâÂÂMapleton Road, and NambourâÂÂMapleton Road to its end in Nambour. Tourist Drive 23 continues across the Nambour Connection Road onto NambourâÂÂBli Bli Road, which it follows to the Bruce Highway.
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.