Perched on top of the Blackall Range sits a 114-year-old pink Queenslander that proves country pubs can do exceptionally well without losing their soul. Mapleton Public House, the beating heart of this hinterland town since 1910, is now owned by regenerative farmers Jessica Huddart and Ben Johnston who ripped out the pokies, hired Executive Chef Cameron Matthews, and built something that makes the whole coast better.
A proper hinterland venue experience.
Classic weatherboard building with wrap-around verandah delivering sweeping views across rolling hinterland to Mount Coolum and the sea-side horizon in the distance. Purple jacaranda blossoms in springtime. Character-filled interior with dark timber, framed photos, original fireplace. The kind of space that makes you want to linger all day while your soul quietly recharges.
When Jessica and Ben took over in 2022, they stripped out every last pokie machine. No flashing lights, no pension-draining distractions. Just a pub restored to what it should be: food, drink, and community. That decision alone deserves respect.
The food is next level.
Farm-to-table isn't marketing speak here, it's literal. The Falls Farm sits just three kilometers down the road, owned by the same people running the pub. Whatever gets picked that morning goes on the menu. Lettuce that squeaks. Carrots that crunch. Picked at the farm, on your plate an hour later.
In Cameron Matthews' hands, that might mean sweet brightly coloured carrots roasted till just tender, topped with caramelised nduja and coconut cream. Hasselback zucchinis stuffed with tomato kasundi, accented with labne and wakame oil. Buffalo carrots that channel spicy chicken wing vibes but entirely vegetarian. Coal-roasted vegetables drizzled with honey and smoked pepper sauce.
Some dishes push boundaries, far from what you'd expect from a regional pub. Others deliver elevated familiarity: buttermilk fried chicken parmigiana with prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella, creamed potato soaking up terrific chicken gravy. Farm risotto that reviewers call the best they've ever had. Stracciatella with tomatoes. Ten Acres sourdough served warm with housemade cultured butter.
Every plate tells a story crafted from what's grown a stone's throw from your table. Fresh, locally grown produce. Clean tasting delicious food. Country goodness.
A drinks menu to match.
Local craft beers from Sunshine Coast breweries on tap alongside classics. An Australian-led wine list that's considered and curated. The drinks offering matches the food ambition: quality over quantity, local support where it matters, careful selection throughout.
This is a pub that understands regenerative hospitality values sustainability as much as flavour, balance in life as much as in cooking. That philosophy extends from the farm to the glass.
Why it works.
In the realm of new-wave pubs sprouting across the country, Mapleton Public House stands out. Exceptional pub fare is abundant, but few can rival the complete experience. The 114-year-old charm hasn't been lost in renovation. The views still stun. The fireplace still warms. The verandah still invites settling in with far-reaching hinterland panoramas.
What sets it apart is dedication to region. Local seasonal ingredients as menu stars. Regenerative hospitality championing sustainability. Pokies removed in favor of community gathering. The Falls Farm integration meaning genuine paddock-to-plate within hours, not days or weeks.
People return within days because the food, location, and service prove exemplary. Visitors put Mapleton on their "lotto win" list of towns they'd move to, all thanks to one unassuming pub delivering Superman-sized punch with food, ethos, and sense of place.
Why we’re shouting them out.
We celebrate businesses that understand craft, community, and doing right by the land. Mapleton Public House embodies all three. Jessica and Ben could've kept the pokies for easy revenue. Instead, they chose community and integrity. That decision signals values over community-harming profits.
The farm-to-table commitment isn't half-hearted. Owning The Falls Farm and integrating it completely with pub operations shows genuine investment in regenerative agriculture and local food systems. When your vegetables travel three kilometers from earth to plate within hours, you're walking the talk.
Supporting local craft breweries alongside an Australian wine list shows commitment to showcasing regional quality. When hinterland pubs stock Sunshine Coast beers, that strengthens the entire coast's brewing ecosystem. It matters.
The Sunshine Coast hinterland deserves venues matching the beauty of the landscape. Mapleton Public House delivers with stunning views, regenerative farming integration, exceptional food, considered drinks, genuine hospitality, all wrapped in 114-year-old pink Queenslander charm.
Whether you're exploring the Blackall Range, up from the coast for the day, or making the pilgrimage specifically for this, book a verandah table for those hinterland views, order the carrots everyone raves about, try the farm risotto, settle in with local craft beer, and understand why this pink pub matters to the whole region.
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