One Tree Hill wedding ceremony photographer’s dream shut to public on Sunshine Coast
One of many Sunshine Coast’s most iconic wedding ceremony images areas, One Tree Hill, will shut to the general public subsequent month after being “cherished to demise”.
Key factors:
- The favored wedding ceremony picture vacation spot in Maleny will near the general public from February 1
- The Woods household say they might not come to an settlement with Sunshine Coast Council
- The pay-to-visit vacation spot has donated greater than $50,000 to charities
The lone cherry tree in Maleny, with backdrops of the Glasshouse Mountains, situated on the Woods household farm, is recognised all over the world after being photographed for greater than 20 years.
However a stoush with the Sunshine Coast Council has prompted the household to shut entry to their beloved hinterland property.
Francis Woods mentioned the closure was “months within the making” after the council obtained a number of complaints about folks utilizing the placement.
“We obtained a letter from the council that claims we’re in breach as a result of we’re a rural property, so clearly not a business enterprise,” Mr Woods mentioned.
“No effective has been issued but … it was a risk.”
A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson mentioned it had obtained complaints in 2021 and 2022 in relation to wedding ceremony ceremonies on the property.
The spokesperson mentioned on each events council officers had written to the proprietor informing them that using the property for capabilities was illegal and a improvement allow have to be sought.
Mr Woods mentioned he was unaware of any ceremonies going down close to One Tree Hill.
Web site raised $50,000 for charity
The farm has raised greater than $50,000 for native charities, collected from the $50 admission charge for these desirous to take pictures on the property.
Mr Woods mentioned the initiative was began by his aged mom Florence after it was prompt by her late husband, Frank.
“She’s fairly upset that I’ve taken the choice to cease it from taking place. She needed me to tolerate the council,” he mentioned.
“The council do not even need to mediate … so simply as a household, we determined that it is extra of a headache than it must be.”
Photographer with heavy coronary heart
Luke Middlemiss has been taking photographs on the fashionable website for over 15 years.
“As a photographer, I’ve been privileged to seize the love and connection between numerous {couples},” Mr Middlemiss mentioned.
“The breathtaking sunsets, panoramic views of the hinterland, and all of the particular moments shared right here will all the time be pricey to me.
“Whereas I perceive and respect the choice of the household to shut, it’s with a heavy coronary heart that I say goodbye to this sanctuary and all of the reminiscences”
Kadence Edmonds and Cameron Keane had been certainly one of a whole bunch of newlyweds who stepped over cow pats on their option to the idyllic place prior to now 20 years.
Ms Edmonds mentioned the choice to shut the gates was upsetting.
“It should be laborious to exchange that and I really feel so sorry for {couples} that had been trying ahead to having their photographs there,” Ms Edmonds mentioned.
A ‘casualty of Love’
Hinterland Tourism consultant Marlene Murray mentioned One Tree Hill had been “cherished to demise”.
“I can think about the sheer quantity of individuals desirous to entry these properties has grow to be intense, and I can totally perceive if all of it turned too laborious,” Ms Murray mentioned.
“Mrs Woods was telling me as soon as that somebody was explaining they knew that view as a result of they noticed it on the again of a rest room door someplace abroad.
“Many individuals round city are upset in the mean time or feeling fairly torn about why it is occurred.
“It has now grow to be a casualty of affection.”
The property will near the general public on February 1.
