Aboriginal legend behind the Glass House Mountains
Sun 01 January 2006
Jenny Meager, Journalism
The Glasshouse Mountains on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast attract thousands of tourists to the small, rural area each year for a glimpse of the spectacular ‘Glass Houses’ discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770.
The mountains are 30 minutes from the coast and 90 minutes from Brisbane, providing a scenic backdrop for South East Queensland’s spectacular coastline.
The Glass House Mountains were formed by volcanic eruptions. Erosion over the past 25 million years has created a climbers’ wonderland for beginners and professionals.
The legend describes the mountains as a family, with Tibrogargan the father and Beerwah the mother. They had many children.
Tibrogargan noticed a rise in the ocean one day and was hurrying the family to the safety of the mountains.
Coonowrin was ordered to help his mother who was pregnant but his father noticed that Coonowrin had left Beerwah behind. He hit Coonowrin with his club, dislocating his neck.
Coonowrin was taunted by his siblings and went to his father for forgiveness. But Tibrogargan could only cry, forming a small river to the ocean. Coonowrin’s brothers and sisters also wept, creating the creeks that exist today.
Tibrogargan was so ashamed of his son he refused to speak or look at him again, turning his back on the hinterland and facing the ocean. Coonowrin hangs his head in shame.
The Glass House Mountains’ European history is equally interesting.
On May 17 Captain Cook wrote of this first sighting:"... they are remarkable for the singular form of their elevation, which very much resembles a glass house, and for this reason I called them the Glass Houses..." he said.
Another great Australian explorer Matthew Flinders was next to visit the area in 1799. He climbed Mount Beerburrum when he came ashore from Moreton Bay.
Mount Beerwah, the highest mountain at 555 metres, is a three hour climb. Tibrogargan is smaller than Mount Beerwah at just 364 metres. It is a harder, steeper climb requiring more skill then the other mountains. Most of the mountains are still open for climbing with walking tracks and park facilities.
Links:
More detail on the Glass House area
Sunshine Coast National Parks
Image(s) designed by Jenny Meager
Enter comments about this article
Submitted Comments
interesting story :)
Mikael
interesting story :)
Mikael
Very informative article about the Glass House Mountains, it's good to read something about local history.
Shawn