Artist Gary Myers reveals plans for public art gallery at Maple Street, Maleny

A popular Sunshine Coast artist has revealed his plans for a new public art gallery in the heart of a hinterland town.

Sunshine Coast artist Gary Myers wants to build a shop and public art gallery at Maleny.

A well-known Sunshine Coast artist wants to help create an arts hub in the main street of a hinterland suburb by developing a new gallery.

Contemporary artist Gary Myers and Helen Gill lodged a development application with Sunshine Coast Council for a shop and public art gallery on an empty block at Maple Street, Maleny.

Mr Myers said the development had been a dream of his for eight years but he had to wait to find the right block.

Property records show Mr Myers and Ms Gill purchased 72A Maple Street in December 2020 for $209,000.

Gary Myers and Helen Gill have applied to build a shop and public art gallery at 72A Maple Street, Maleny.

Mr Myers, who has had more than 45 solo exhibitions, said the area would be designed to be a studio gallery.

“This will be more of a studio gallery where people can come and see me painting,” he said.

“People already come to visit from all around Australia … I see this as being a continuation of that.”

Mr Myers’ works are inspired by natural scenes around Maleny - where his great grandparents lived in the 1900s - and are featured in six galleries.

Gary Myers and Helen Gill have applied to build a shop and public art gallery at 72A Maple Street, Maleny.

Mr Myers has previously had galleries in Maleny but always wanted a permanent home for his work on the main street.

“I’m hoping this area becomes a little art enclave,” he said.

Town planners Bennett and Bennett lodged a planning application on behalf of Mr Myers and Ms Gill which said the use was in line with the site’s business zoning.

The application is code assessable and therefore will not go out for public comment.