MONTVILLE, QUEENSLAND

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A township in the Blackall Range that has been developed on the lines of an European mountain village complete with Swiss and Bavarian chalets, mills and Tudor cottages. Online guide.
Location: 60 km north of Brisbane.
Origin of name: originally called Razorback, the local residents led by storekeeper Henry Smith requested Montville, an artificial name from mont, meaning mountain, and ville, meaning town. It was changed officially to Montville in November 1897. It has been said that Smith's sister, Emma Irons, lived in Montville, Connecticut, USA. The first two suggestions - Razorback and Vermont - were rejected because those names had already been used.
Brief history: The Blackall Range was home to members of the Kabi tribe who gathered every two or three years on the banks of the Obi Obi Creek at Baroon Pocket to feast on the fruit of the Bunya Pine (Bonyi Bonyi). White timber getters entered the area in the 1850s but another 30 years would pass before the land was subdivided and opened to dairy farmers. Within a short time, the cultivation of tropical fruits was commenced.
Natural features: Blackall Range; Obi Obi Creek; Senses Trail/Razorback Lookout; Lake Baroon; Kondalilla National Park (incorporates 327 hectares of lush subtropical rainforest; Kondalilla Falls, 90 metres high; Skene Creek; Picnic Creek).
Built features: various galleries, craft and glass blowing studios; Settlers Rise Vineyard and Winery