History of parks and forests

National parks

Queensland's first national parks
Queensland's past
Traditional pathways
Settlement and exploration
Something for everyone

Queensland's first national parks
During a world tour, pastoralist Robert Martin Collins was inspired by tales of the world’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park, established in the United States in 1872.

Upon his return to Queensland, Collins campaigned tirelessly for the creation of national parks in Queensland. His dream was realised almost 40 years later when Witches Falls at Tamborine in south-east Queensland became the state’s first park in 1908. It was the forerunner of more than 200 national parks which capture Yellowstone's spirit.

Canungra sawmiller Romeo Lahey pursued Collins' dream when Queensland’s first large park, Lamington National Park, protected 47,000 acres (19,000ha) of the McPherson Ranges in 1915.

Queensland has come a long way since then. Today, national parks protect biodiversity and cultural heritage as well as breathtaking natural scenery.

The early European settlers found the Australian landscape harsh and unforgiving, and desperately tried to change it into the more familiar English-looking countryside.

Today, we have to be grateful they did not fully succeed. Precious bush remnants are now preserved in our national parks.

Queensland's past
When you visit many of Queensland's national parks, you discover our past. Aboriginal people have important spiritual ties to the land, and some national parks have physical reminders of these first inhabitants. Remains of many activities of the later European settlers are also scattered throughout national parks.

Lark Quarry can probably claim the oldest relics with preserved dinosaur footprints dating back 100 million years.

Carnarvon Gorge, in Carnarvon National Park, has some of the best known Aboriginal art sites in Queensland. Other rock art sites are at Chillagoe-Mungana Caves, Lawn Hill and Flinders Group National Parks.

Nearby Mount Moffatt, also in Carnarvon National Park, has an art site dating back at least 9400 years. A waterhole here is significant for Aboriginal people who left their mark on the sandstone walls. Aboriginal occupation of Kenniff Cave, one of Australia’s best known Pleistocene sites, dates back 19,500 years. More recently, the Kenniff Brothers, infamous turn-of-the-century horse and cattle thieves, camped nearby!

The Kenniff Brothers ended up incarcerated at St Helena Island, Queensland’s first and major penal settlement from 1867 until 1932. St Helena Island was also the state’s first historic national park.

During his voyage of discovery up Australia’s east coast, Lt James Cook named many landmarks, including the Glass House Mountains. These mountains are very special to local Aboriginal people. Cook's botanist, Joseph Banks, collected plants from Eurimbula and Endeavour River National Parks during this epic voyage.

In the late 19th century, concern about Australia’s vulnerability to invasion resulted in a string of coastal fortifications along the east coast. Today, many are preserved in the parks. Fort Lytton, near the mouth of Brisbane River, is probably the best example. This tradition continued during the world wars and remnants can be seen at Bribie and Magnetic Islands.

Remains of quarantine stations at Cape Pallarenda and Fort Lytton bear witness to the waves of immigrants who came to Queensland searching for a new beginning.

Traditional pathways
Many national parks have names derived from Aboriginal languages. Others have fascinating associated legends. Girraween (place of flowers), near Stanthorpe, has both, reminding us of the Kambuwal people. Like Girraween, many national parks lie on traditional pathways taken by Aboriginal people when they travelled to share nature’s seasonal bounty or take part in ceremonial occasions.

Lamington has a traditional pathway through the park while Burleigh Head was one place where Aboriginal people flocked to harvest riches of the sea.

Bunya Mountains National Park was one of the most important meeting grounds. About every three years, Aboriginal people from south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales gathered for the bunya nut harvest.

Islands like Fraser Island have many physical reminders of the first people. Aboriginal people lived on North Keppel Island at least 4500 years ago. Unlike some islands which could only support Aboriginal people seasonally, the Woppaburra people lived in the Keppels all year round.

Settlement and exploration
Early settlers left a legacy in many parks. The Archer brothers who settled in the Rockhampton area in 1853 are remembered at Mount Archer National Park. Evidence of the pastoral industry can be seen at Lakefield and Currawinya National Parks. Combo Waterhole is believed to be the inspiration for Australia’s favourite folksong, Waltzing Matilda.

An old stone-paved road used by early settlers to transport wool to the coast can be seen in Isla Gorge while visitors can still see fascinating reminders of early pioneers along the historic Spicer’s Gap Road in Main Range National Park.

Queensland's early settlers headed to the hills in search of red gold, the prized red cedar timber. Remains of logging and forestry activities can be seen at Tamborine, Springbrook and Bunya Mountains National Parks.

Cunningham’s Gap in Main Range National Park was discovered by explorer Allan Cunningham, while a place Edmund Kennedy visited during his ill-fated 1848 expedition now bears his name.

Captain Logan was the first European to climb Mount Barney. Unlike most visitors today, he chose a difficult route. Ludwig Leichhardt camped on the shores of Lake Murphy during his 1844 epic journey while surveyor and explorer Thomas Mitchell named Salvator Rosa in 1846.

Queensland’s coastline was so treacherous that a string of lighthouses was built to warn passing ships of the hidden dangers. Lighthouses remain at many places including Moreton Island and Double Island Point at Cooloola. Winch Cove at Noosa National Park owes its name to a shipping incident.

Something for everyone

Some of Queensland’s earliest tourist resorts are next to national parks, such as Green Island and Lamington national parks.
A pioneering rail route now carries thousands of visitors through Barron Gorge National Park.
Relics of our gold mining heritage can be seen in some parks such as Auburn River, and the famous Palmer River Goldfield.
Mon Repos, famous for its nesting turtles, has other claims to fame. The remains of a Kanaka-built wall can be seen here and this was the site of Bert Hinkler’s first flight.
The Stinson wreck in Lamington National Park tells a fascinating story of human endurance and courage.
A plant trail through Cape Hillsborough National Park shows how the local Aboriginal people used plants for medicines, plants and food. Find out more at Conway National Park near Airlie Beach.
Jardine River National Park in Cape York Peninsula was named after explorers, the Jardine Brothers.
Dalrymple National Park contains part of Australia’s first surveyed town.
The Mimosa culture track in Blackdown Tableland National Park is a self-guiding cultural trail which passes old cattle yards on the way to an Aboriginal rock art site, a reminder of the Gungaloo people who lived here thousands of years before European settlement.

When you visit or check out Queensland’s national parks, you will discover more of these fascinating links with our colourful past.

Last updated: 06 September 2006