This story has been updated: 18th December 2025
After 18 years of dedicated service, Elizabeth and David are closing the Mapleton Post Office on 9 February 2026. The community is now exploring options to preserve this 130-year-old service for the Blackall Range.
The Mapleton Licensed Post Office will cease operating at 5pm on Monday, 9 February 2026, bringing to a close Elizabeth and David’s remarkable 18-year stewardship of this essential community service. Their contribution to Mapleton has been immense, and the entire community extends heartfelt thanks and best wishes to them both.
Update: Australia Post has confirmed that Mapleton IGA will be taking on postal services in town from February 2026. An Australia Post spokesperson said they are “delighted to confirm” the arrangement and will update the community as soon as there is more information to share. The spokesperson expressed sincere gratitude to Elizabeth and David for their dedicated service to the community over nearly two decades.
More Than Just a Post Office
For those who might think this is simply about stamps and parcels, the stakes are considerably higher. The Mapleton Post Office has evolved from a modest receiving office in a farmhouse orchard during the 1890s to its current licensed outlet in a dedicated commercial building at 11 Post Office Road, reflecting the township’s growth from scattered farms to a small rural service centre.
Postal services started in January 1893 as a receiving office at E.H. Biggs’ Luton Vale Orchard farmhouse, when the area was briefly called Luton Vale. By 1894, after renaming to Mapleton, likely inspired by the English Derbyshire Dales town, operations remained informal and tied to early settler homes or orchards amid citrus and banana farming.
The post office literally gave Mapleton its name. That 1894 decision by local settlers fixed the town’s identity on the Blackall Range for the next 130 years.
A formal post office opened on 7 July 1949 at a specific site where the first postmaster Harold Cordery supplied the building, which also housed the telephone exchange. This marked the shift to a standalone facility as Mapleton developed infrastructure like the school, hall, and tramway remnants, serving a population transitioning from fruitgrowing to dairying.
Today, the Australia Post outlet operates from 11 Post Office Road near Mapleton State School and the Nambour-Mapleton Road intersection, a central village spot convenient for locals and tourists near Mapleton Falls National Park.
Through the expansion of orchards and plantations in the early 1900s, through the opening of the Mapleton-Nambour tramway in 1915, through the growth of tourism at Mapleton Falls and Kondalilla, and into the present day, the post office has remained one of the handful of institutions that define this small township alongside the school, hall, and hotel.
It has served as more than an Australia Post outlet. It’s been a community hub, a fundraising point, a visible supporter of local initiatives, and part of the everyday circuit for residents accessing services along the range.
MADCA and Council Respond
The Mapleton and District Community Association (MADCA) has been in touch with Australia Post regarding the closure.
MADCA President Peter Gamgee said: “First and foremost we should see what we can do to support Elizabeth and David through any transition, recognising their support and standing in this community, and respecting their wishes.”
MADCA will continue discussions with Elizabeth and David, and with Australia Post, as the situation develops.
Division 10 Councillor David Law said he is aware of the pending closure and will provide support to any new licensee who may wish to take on the Mapleton Post Office. “This would most likely be in relation to any planning matters to establish a new Post Office,” he said. “I will advocate for the continuation of a Post Office in Mapleton as while there are some public transport connections to the nearby Post Office in Montville and Nambour it is not as convenient as having one in your own town.”
Councillor Law noted that he understands there are negotiations with a potential licensee but does not have any details at this stage.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson confirmed that post offices are managed by Australia Post, and noted that under Queensland’s Planning Regulation 2017, a post office is defined as a “shop” and suitable alternate locations would be in the Local Centre Zone in Mapleton, to maintain the integrity of town centres and support community needs.
Transport Options for Residents
Council recognises getting around in the hinterland poses additional difficulties for people with accessibility needs. To support accessible transport in the hinterland, the Council Link service transports eligible people from Mapleton via Montville and Flaxton to Nambour every Thursday. The Nambour Post Office would be a 110-metre walk for people dropped off at Nambour shopping centre. Alternatively, there is an existing Translink bus service (890) which could transport people from Mapleton to Montville.
What Happens Next
The timeline is tight, just over two months until the scheduled closure.
For a community that has had postal services since the 1890s, for a town that literally took its name from its post office, and for residents who rely on this service for everything from parcels to bill payments to simple human connection, this matters.
MADCA will continue to keep the community informed as the situation develops. Anyone with questions or who wishes to be involved should contact the association (Email: enquiries@madca.com.au).
In the meantime, if you see Elizabeth and David around town, take a moment to thank them. Eighteen years of service to this community deserves our deep appreciation and gratitude.
Range Community News and MADCA will continue to keep the community informed as the situation develops. If you have any queries about postal services, please call the Australia Post customer contact centre on 13 76 78.
The nearest post offices to Mapleton are:
- Montville LPO – approximately 6-9 km away at 161-170 Main Street, Montville
- Nambour Post Shop – approximately 9 km away at 22 Lowe Street, Nambour
- Woombye LPO – approximately 15.5 km away at Unit 1, 12 Blackall Street, Woombye
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy and timeliness, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability with respect to the article or the information contained within for any purpose.