Canungra, Queensland

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Canungra
Queensland

The historic Canungra Hotel
Canungra
Coordinates 28°02′0″S 153°10′0″E / 28.03333°S 153.16667°E / -28.03333; 153.16667Coordinates: 28°02′0″S 153°10′0″E / 28.03333°S 153.16667°E / -28.03333; 153.16667
Population 746 (2011)[1]
Postcode(s) 4275
LGA(s) Scenic Rim Region
State electorate(s) Beaudesert
Federal Division(s) Wright

Canungra /kəˈnʌŋɡrə/[2] is a small, picturesque, rural township in the Scenic Rim Region local government area of South East Queensland, Australia. Its economy depends on tourism, being a popular destination for short drives from the Gold Coast and Brisbane. Canungra, also called the "Valley of the Owls", is situated in the Gold Coast hinterland, 35 kilometres (22 mi) west of the Gold Coast and 90 kilometres (56 mi) south of Brisbane. At the 2011 census, Canungra had a population of 746.[1]

One of the origin of the town's name comes from the Aboriginal word for small owls, "Caningera".[3] The most notable owl found in the area is the Southern Boobook Owl, which appears in various logos & symbols associated with Canungra. In 2005, the local Post Office released a special limited-release frank featuring Canungra & the Boobook Owl.

Residents and business in Canungra get their water supply from Canungra Creek, a tributary of Albert River. The slopes around Canungra are steep and forested with some cleared farmlands and rural homes in the flatter valley areas.

History

Canungra owes its existence to the timber industry and once boasted one of the largest stands of timber in the colony. The father of Romeo Lahey owned one of Queensland's largest sawmills at Canungra.[4] By the 1940s most of the timber had been cut and sawmills were closing.[5] The historic Lahey's Tramway Tunnel is the only remnant of the past sawmilling activities in the area.[6] Following this logging era came beef cattle and dairying.

From 2 July 1915 until 1 July 1955 the Canungra railway line ran from the Beaudesert line at Logan Village to Canungra.[7]

Heritage listings

Canungra has a number of heritage-listed sites, including:

  • Darlington Range Road: Lahey's Canungra Tramway Tunnel[8]
  • 10-26 Finch Road: Lahey's Canungra Sawmill Complex[9]

Military base

The nearby locality of Witheren is the location of a large military establishment called the Kokoda Barracks within the Canungra Military Area, which includes the Land Warfare Centre. It was established during World War II and revived in 1954 to train personnel for the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) commitment in Malaya and on through to the end of the Vietnam War.[5] The base provides a substantial permanent resident population as well as an ever-changing transient population due to the extensive ongoing training courses on offer at the base.

Cultural references

In Redgum's #1 single "I Was Only Nineteen", Canungra is referred to as one of the bases used for training during the Vietnam war. The single was taken from Redgum's 1983 album Caught in the Act.

Industry

The town is home to a small but growing wine industry.[10]

Tourism

Canungra is nestled in the middle of the three major tourist destination, and is the gateway to the Gold Coast hinterland. Mount Tamborine, Lamington National Park, O'Reilly's Guesthouse and Binna Burra. The township is also a meeting place for motor bike club rides, hanggliders, paragliders, birdwatchers and bushwalkers who visit the area annually to take advantage of what the Canungra Valley has to offer. A rodeo is organised each year in June.[10]

Notable former residents

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Australian Bureau of Statistics (31 October 2012). "Canungra (Urban centre/Locality". 2011 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 25 March 2013. 
  2. ↑ Macquarie Dictionary, Fourth Edition (2005). Melbourne, The Macquarie Library Pty Ltd. ISBN 1-876429-14-3
  3. ↑ Roberts, Beryl (1991). Stories of the Southside. Archerfield, Queensland: Aussie Books. p. 57. ISBN 0-947336-01-X. 
  4. ↑ Hutton, Drew; Libby Connors (1999). History of the Australian Environment Movement. Cambridge University Press. p. 33. ISBN 052145686X. Retrieved 28 June 2013. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Queensland Environmental Protection Agency (2000). Heritage Trails of the Great South East. State of Queensland. p. 16. ISBN 0-7345-1008-X. 
  6. ↑ The Canungra and Pine Creek Logging Tramway Burke, David Australia Railway Historical Society Bulletin, May/June, 1950,pp8-10/24-25
  7. ↑ The Canungra Branch Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, January 1993 pp12-19
  8. ↑ "Lahey's Canungra Tramway Tunnel (entry 19652)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-12. 
  9. ↑ "Lahey's Canungra Sawmill Complex (entry 30538)". Queensland Heritage Register. Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 2013-07-12. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Canungra". Scenic Rim Regional Council. Retrieved 28 June 2013. 

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