 |
| Challawong at Glen Rock |
In past times
there was an Aboriginal route from the east onto the Downs that passed the rock
overhang called Challawong. This is the only known example of this form of Aboriginal
art in South-east Queensland. By abrading and pecking the rock the natives
created abstract designs of ovals, straight lines, U shapes and others. The
meaning of these is unknown. They are only marred by some graffiti at the
western end. This is truly a unique site which needs better protection and I
have contacted the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to that effect.
 |
| Aboriginal abstract art |
Glen Rock is
one of my favourite places as I was on its development committee for six years
representing the interests of conservation. It takes in much of the catchment
of Blackfellows Creek and the top of Black Duck Creek in the southern Lockyer.
Originally a cattle property, it was purchased by the Queensland Government and
developed under the auspices of Gatton Shire Council. It is now National Park.
The long
drive up the valley is rewarded by arriving at a pleasant picnic spot and
campground, impressive views of steep hillsides and the prominence of Glen Rock
jutting out from the valley’s eastern wall. Also of interest are the slab hut
with its walls hung with accounts of local history, and the Aboriginal native
garden. The latter is dominated by small trees that do not give a
representative array of native food plants. I believe our Nats. member Janet
Crompton is related to the Philp family who lived locally and gave their name
to Mt. Philp one of the many sizeable peaks.
(Report and photos by Neil McKilligan)
Plants at Glen Rock
 |
| Melaleuca bracteata, Glen Rock |
Very little of the original vegetation survives in the
vicinity of the creek at Glen Rock - a classic “depauperate” environment where
clearing has removed most of the native plants, and only the hardiest survive.
Two native trees, black tea tree, Melaleuca bracteata, and river
she-oak, Casuarina cunninghamiana,
were the predominant trees, with just a few kurrajongs (native) and pepperinas
(introduced weeds) sprinkled among them. The undergrowth all consisted of
weeds, with the exception of a few, hard to find, native nettles and bluebells,
and one lonely matrush. The tea trees did
their best to make up for the poverty of the flora, with lovely large, old
specimens showing off their impressive, shady, green canopies.
Some us of took a further walk upstream where some equally
outstanding, specimens occurred. These were distinguished by their astonishing
height, with some having massive, straight trunks that did not branch till they
reached a great height. This growth pattern reveals that when they were young,
they grew in dense scrub that forced them upwards. A few remaining dry
rainforest tree species, including an equally outstanding large whalebone tree Streblus
brunonianus, gave us a clue as to what the long-vanished creek vegetation
would once have been. Historical records tell us that dense “scrubs” in the
creeks of the area were rigorously cleared in the early days of white
settlement, as they provided refuges for aborigines. This was Jagera territory,
and members of this tribe were a warlike lot, much feared by the settlers.
The camping ground boasts a very good Aboriginal Plant Use
Garden, which informed us that the sweet nectar from the white, bottlebrush
flowers of the tea trees, (not in evidence on our visit), was sucked directly
from the flowers or made into a sweet drink by soaking in water, and the leaves
were used medicinally for headaches, colds, and “general sickness”.
 |
| Acacia salicina seeds and arils, Glen Rock |
On the
path in that garden, the bright red arils of sally wattle Acacia salicina
also attracted our attention. Red also attracts the attention of birds, and it
was obvious that parrots of some kind had been eating the seeds, and dropping
the pods on the ground. This is the only local wattle with red arils (the cords
which attach the seed to the pod) so they help us to identify the plant.
Garden
signage told us that Aborigines ate the seeds of this plant, and used its
leaves as fish poison and its wood for making boomerangs. Seed collection was
made easy for them by ants, which collect them for their very nutritious, oily
arils, but leave the unwanted seeds outside their nests.
(Plant report and photographs by Trish Gardner)
Species List
Junction View to Glen
Rock N.P., 5 October 2014 compiled by Lesley Beaton from member’s sightings.
Junction View:
27°48'0.73"S, 152°11'14.09"E
Channel-billed Cuckoo, Laughing Kookaburra,
Noisy Friarbird, Grey Butcherbird, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow,
Challawong: Striated
Pardalote, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Leaden Flycatcher.
Glen Rock N.P.:
27°53'15.41"S, 152°14'45.86"E
Birds:
Crested Pigeon, Straw-necked Ibis, Galah, Pale-headed Rosella, Laughing
Kookaburra, Rainbow Bee-eater, White-throated Treecreeper, Satin Bowerbird,
Superb Fairy-wren, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Pardalote, Noisy Miner,
Brown Honeyeater, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Friarbird, Little Friarbird,
Grey-crowned Babbler, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Rufous Whistler, Grey
Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, Magpie-lark,
Welcome Swallow.
Butterflies: Large Grass-yellow Eurema hecabe, Glasswing Acraea andromacha
Meadow Argus Junonia villida, Common Crow Euploea core, Lesser
Wanderer Danaus chrysippus, Common Grass Blue Zizina labradus labradus.
Dragonfly: Australian Emperor Hemianax
papuensis
Reptiles: Goanna, Eastern Bearded Dragon Pogona
barbata.
Blackfeller Creek
between Glen Rock boundary and Junction View: compiled by Al Young
Birds: Pacific
Black Duck, Grey Teal, Australasian Grebe, Little Black Cormorant,
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, Dusky Moorhen, Sacred Kingfisher, White-throated
Gerygone, Bell Miner, Eastern Whipbird, Willie Wagtail, Olive-backed Oriole
Dragonflies:Australian Emperor – Hemianax
papuensis, Scarlet Percher – Diplacodes haematodes, Wandering
Percher – Diplacodes bipunctata. Reptiles: Macquarie Turtle – Emydura
macquarii
Mt Sylvia: Pheasant Coucal
(Submitted
by Lauren Marlatt)
 |
| Scarlet Percher (photo by Al Young) |
 |
| Australian Empereor (photo by Al Young) |