Glenferna
The Opening of Glenferna
On the 15 June 2019, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland visited the Maleny Pioneer Village, inspected the Village and opened Glenferna. Glenferna, a historic farm house built in 1903, was donated to the Historical Society by Brian & Leone McFarlane. It was shifted to the Pioneer Village from 1010 Maleny/Landsborough Rd on 26 May 2013. The restoration took 3 years and was undertaken by almost 100 volunteers and donors, many from the Men's Shed, with grants and fund raising.
The occasion was very memorable when an old farmhouse was opened for posterity to store Maleny's history.
Community groups co-operated for the Open day including RSL, Rotary, Lions, Show Society, Blackall Range Horseless Carriage Car Club, Men’s Shed, High School & State School.
The occasion was very memorable when an old farmhouse was opened for posterity to store Maleny's history.
Community groups co-operated for the Open day including RSL, Rotary, Lions, Show Society, Blackall Range Horseless Carriage Car Club, Men’s Shed, High School & State School.
Speeches presented at the Opening of Glenferna
History of the restoration
Photos below show the restoration of Glenferna.
Photos below show the restoration of Glenferna.
Glenferna was built as a farmhouse at 1010 Maleny/Landsborough Rd, Balmoral, by Edward Thynne in 1903. The land (790 acres) was originally selected by Isaac Burgess, subdivided, and in 1902 one portion was sold to the Thynne sisters, MM, JMP & EG Thynne (320 acres) and the other portion to their sibling, Edward T F Thynne (469 acres). Edward Thynne called his house Glenferna, named from where their father, Andrew Joseph Thynne, originated from in Ireland. Glenferna was registered as a Receiving Office for mail in January 1904 and became known as Thynnes RO in 1906. Edward married and 2 children were born while living in Glenferna. The property was sold in 1912 after drought and financial difficulties.
In 1915 the farm was bought by Arthur & Mary Cork and it became their family home for their 11 children for 34 years. Their eldest daughter, Blanche, married Ernest E Pattemore in 1916, which links Glenferna to Fairview, the Pattemore family home. Fairview is Maleny’s only State Heritage House.
The property was sold and resold until it became an Art Union Prize Farm in 1976. The winner tenanted the house and farm until recently, when the property was purchased by Brian & Leone McFarlane. The house was given to the Historical Society to be shifted to the Maleny Historical Village to become a Schools’ & Post office Museum. It was shifted on the 25th May 2016 and is presently being restored.
Edward Thynne is remembered on the cairn at Mary Cairncross Park which reads - “This park was donated by MM, JMP & EG Thynne in memory of their mother, Mary Cairncross and her family. May the memory of Ted (FTF) Thynne linger in this beauty spot he loved so well, and helped his sisters to preserve and cherish”.
The School Museum will include memorabilia from the small schools that closed down within the district - Blackall Range (Wootha), Witta, North Maleny, Bald Knob, Curramore, Booroobin as well as the Maleny State School, Maleny High School and the Ananda Marga River School. The Post Office Museum will include the history of the mail service to Maleny, M.S. 373 which started c1890. It also displays telephones & exchanges including a 1911 manual Ericsson. The verandah on the southern side has been fully enclosed with an office and a climate controlled archive. There's a secure work area & storage space under the house.
On Saturday, 15 June 2019, the Governor of Queensland, His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC visited the Pioneer Village and opened Glenferna. He spoke of the history of the house and thanked the 100 volunteers who assisted with the restoration.
The Louise Cogzell Doll Collection is now displayed in Glenferna. This wonderful collection of 600 hand crafted porcelain dolls depicts cultures of the world. The collection was gifted to the Society for the public to enjoy.
The garage from Glenferna was removed in May 2015 and rebuilt as the Blacksmith's Shop at the Village.
February 2016
The Blacksmith's Shop