Montville, Queensland


Montville is a rural town and locality in the Sunshine Coast Region, Queensland, Australia. In the, Montville had a population of 970 people.

Geography

Montville is in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, on the Blackall Range, around above sea level.

History

The first white settlers arrived in the area in 1887. The town was originally called Razorback, but was renamed following a community meeting. The name Montville was proposed by storekeeper Henry Smith after a suggestion by his mother, as it reminded her of their early years in Montville, USA. Alternatively it is a coined word from mont meaning mountain and ville meaning town. The name was officially changed to Montville on 30 November 1897.
Montville Provisional School opened on 2 October 1896. In 1904 it was renamed Montville Provisional School. On 1 January 1909 it became Montville State School.
From about 1900 the town became a popular mountain resort.
Montville Post Office opened by February 1910.
Montville was predominantly a logging then farming community until a tourism boom which commenced during the 1970s, taking advantage of the scenic views of the Sunshine Coast and the nearby rainforest walks.
At the, Montville and the surrounding area had a population of 886.

Heritage listings

Montville has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:
The town is well served with facilities, including an Anglican Church, a Uniting Church, a multi-denominational wedding chapel, a village green and community hall and a large sportsground featuring a football field, tennis courts and a wood working centre.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Council operates a mobile library service which visits Main Street.

Education

Montville State School is a government primary school for boys and girls at Main Street. In 2017, the school had an enrolment of 94 students with 14 teachers and 9 non-teaching staff. It includes a special education program.

Attractions

The town is now a popular short break tourist destination for the people of Brisbane and is famous for its parks and walks including the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk. Popular attractions include galleries, restaurants, wineries, clock shop, cheese factories, and craft and clothing shops. The world-renowned Australia Zoo is a 20-minute drive down the range at nearby Beerwah. Montville is becoming a very popular location for destination weddings at its many resorts, b&bs, wineries and restaurants.
The Baroon Pocket Dam in nearby North Maleny, which provides water for Caloundra and Maroochydore, is also a recreational facility, permitting boating, fishing and picnicking.
There are many places to stay in and around Montville, with accommodation ranging from private cottages to family style units and suites.

In popular culture

Montville was the setting for Eleanor Dark's 1959 novel Lantana Lane.