AUTUMN IN MALENY

I was disgusted many years ago when the corrupt Queensland government led by Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen ordered the midnight demolition of the Brisbane heritage building The Bellevue Hotel. The demolition was carried out by the Deen Brothers demolition team. This was the beginning of other significant Brisbane landmarks being destroyed by these ’guns for hire’, so when twenty five years later (less one week) the Deen Brother’s turn up  in Maleny to begin clearing the land for a controversial retail development I along with 79% of the town’s population was outraged. The retail giant Woolworths is spreading it’s way across Australia like an octopus and strangling the life out of many of our country town’s fragile economies.

Hear this song being performed by Noel.

Read 1979 newspaper accounts of the Bellevue demolition.

There’s bare red earth falling down to the creek, in the lower part of town
Birds are flying overhead, cause their homes have been cut down
Choppers in the air, police across the ground
Its autumn in Maleny, the Deen brothers have come to town

Now the year was 1979 in Brisbane, my hometown
Like vandals they came in the night, and tore the Bellevue down
Police were there to protect them, that continual blue compound
Its was autumn time in Brisbane, the Deen brothers had come to town

Now I stood down on that corner, as that hotel tore apart
And I watched outside the barricades, as those tall trees ripped my heart
Oh why are profits louder, than the platypus underground
Its autumn in Maleny, the Deen brothers have come to town

Now police are there for community, to protect & solve its crime
But sometimes they’re guns for hire , as developers  cross the line
Twenty five years in Queensland, the circle comes around
Its autumn in Maleny, the Deen brothers have come to town

In those green hills north of Brisbane, just two hours drive
Shared ideals & vision with peace & music thrive
But corporate shares & profits have forged a battleground
Its autumn in Maleny, the Deen brothers have come to town

Now there’s sadness where tall trees once stood, in bold majestic pride
And a silt trap catches effluent from polluted company lies
Cornerstone & Woolies, corporate ties renowned
Its autumn in Maleny, the Deen brothers have come to town

There’s bare red earth falling down to the creek, in the lower part of town
Birds are flying overhead, cause their homes have been cut down
Choppers in the air, police across the ground
Its autumn in Maleny, the Deen brothers have come to town