Month: June 2012
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There once was a waterhole . . .
What do kids, cows and nuns have in common? The answer is Western Creek — a special part of Western Creek that no longer exists. For at the bottom of Couldrey Street, where there now is just a clearing, there once was a waterhole! As recently as the late 1970s or early 1980s, this was…
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The Couldrey Street Clearing
The clearing at the bottom of Couldrey Street has intrigued me ever since I started retracing the path of Western Creek. This is where the channels running through the bush around Tristania Drive — the only remaining natural parts of the creek — converge, only to spill out onto a large, waterlogged lawn. Through the…
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There once was a house . . .
History can be told in so many different ways. I’ve chosen a buried suburban creek as my narrative thread. Magnus, a resident of Auchenflower, is using the renovation/restoration of his own house as a window to the history of his home and neighbourhood. His blog, A House in Auchenflower, delves into the history of the…
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The bird on the fence by the pond
I walked past the pond at the bottom of the Fernberg grounds today and saw this bird sitting on the fence. It looks familiar but I have no idea what it is. I’ve never seen this sort of bird around here before. It let me get surprisingly close — within a couple of metres. Even…
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The Mystery of the Cubberla Creek Campsite
Today I went up to the summit of Mount Coot-tha. It was another glorious, cloudless winter day, and while I did spend some time looking out over Brisbane while enjoying an ice cream, my main objective was to explore some of the walking tracks that begin from the summit and lead in various directions into…
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What’s in the Governor’s backyard?
Last Sunday was open day at Government House, the big white mansion at the top of the hill on Fernberg Road. These events only happen once or twice a year, so they are a rare opportunity to see inside the Governor’s backyard — and the Governor’s house, of course, if that takes your fancy. This…
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Fernberg from the inside
Every once in a blue moon, to celebrate days of actual or purported national significance, the gates of Government House are thrown open so that us ordinary folk can have a look inside. There was an open day planned for the Australia Day weekend, but it was cancelled due to wet weather. Last Sunday (3…