Witta is a rural area in Jinibara Country on the Blackall Range, close to the Maleny township. When the first Germans from Brisbane’s Logan district selected agricultural farms in 1887, the land was dense vine scrub in ancient forest crossed by Aboriginal pathways. More Germans followed, as did selectors from England, Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia. Not all succeeded, with farms often lost through surrender or forfeiture. Settlers opened a Provisional School in 1892, the same year Lutherans gathered for a Christmas service. The school served its community until 1974, Lutherans still gather today.

Lutherans on the “Cow End” of the Blackall Range focuses on the church and Its predominantly-German congregation between 1892 and 1929. It also tells of early European settlement and the opening of the Maleny Butter Factory in 1904. This event lifted the district from subsistence farming to modest prosperity. As dairying increased, Witta and Maleny became known as the “cow end” of the Blackall Range.

Unfortunately all copies of the book have been sold. The book is available for loan form the Sunshine Coast library Service.