Glenferna
Update
Glenferna was shifted to the Maleny Historical Village on the evening of 25th May 2016 and is presently undergoing restoration
Glenferna was shifted to the Maleny Historical Village on the evening of 25th May 2016 and is presently undergoing restoration
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 is believed to have started in 1890. The verandah on the southern side will be fully enclosed with a climate controlled archive and office and there will be a secure area under the house for storage.
The restoration of Glenferna is well underway with Ed Lawley the Project Manager and the daily supervision by Bernie Gilbert. Local tradesmen, businesses, past students of the schools, descendants of Edward Thynne & members of the Men’s Shed are some of the volunteers assisting with the project. Glenferna is being restored by volunteers of the community for the community.
The Maleny Cultural & Historical Society is asking if you can please support us to complete this project. We’ve saved the house but need more funds to complete the project. We need $s for the installation of electricity, paint archives and office equipment and to display the Museum.
We need your help for us to save Glenferna.
Volunteers needed. Please, give Bernie a call: 5494 3149
Download the form below and post to The Secretary, Maleny Historical Society, PO Box 5, Maleny Qld 4552
or
make your payment direct by EFT
or
make your payment direct by EFT
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, built from the garage at Glenferna.