Maleny (pronounced muh-LAY-knee) is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia.

Nearby places of geographical significance include the Glass House Mountains and Baroon Pocket Dam (in North Maleny).

[citation needed] Maleny is situated approximately 450 metres (1,500 ft) above sea level, among the characteristic rolling green hills of the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

Prior to European settlement, the area was covered in thick sub-tropical rainforest with huge hardwood trees.

Loggers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries opened up the area seeking valuable timber, which was prized locally and in Europe.

Only a few pockets of forest remain in steeper terrain and in one large remnant patch (around 40 hectares [100 acres]) which now forms Mary Cairncross Reserve.

[citation needed] The first European to document Maleny was the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt who describes the area in his travel diary in 1844.

[4] Since just after the turn of the 20th century, the Maleny Community Centre has provided facilities to residents and visitors for a wide range of activities.

Garland,[16] but it fell into disuse due to the failure of the settlement and was formally closed in August 1931 prior to its removal to Maleny.

[17] The building was originally built as a chapel at the Enoggera army barracks during World War I by the Soldiers' Church of England Help Society.

[24]) A number of motivations for the protest existed but of particular concern was that the supermarket was to be built over a significant platypus habitat and that local traders would be negatively affected as well as issues regarding local council members going against the original town planning agreement regarding all development in Maleny to be in fitting with "the village environ" that characterises much of the townships of the Blackall Range.

[25] Badges and posters reading "I WON'T SHOP THERE" were seen in Maleny as part of the anti-Woolworths campaign, although the bumper stickers can now be seen in the Woolworths car park.

[26] Despite protests and an offer to purchase the site for A$2 million (pledged by local residents) the supermarket opened on 3 April 2006.

[27] In 2013, many residents protested the construction of a petrol station and convenience store at 19 & 21 Bunya St, Maleny by the IGA Supermarket.

"[29] In 2016, Sydney-based advertising executive and author David Rollins proposed a "TT Style" motorcycle race for the Maleny area.

Maleny residents formed a protest group to oppose this event called "Peaceful Roads Sunshine Coast."

There are art galleries, health food and organic produce stores, cafes, the Maleny Credit Union, a thriving business centre, rural settlements, a community golf course, alternative schools, alternative medical treatment centres, organic farms, intentional communities including the Crystal Waters Permaculture Village in nearby Conondale and the Fountainhead organic retreat and education centre (whose founder received a certificate from Senator Mark Furner for his work in helping those with depression and anxiety).

Located on the humid eastern slopes of the Blackall Range, Maleny is one of the wettest towns in Queensland away from the north tropical coast.