Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Kangaroo Point Cliffs
Kangaroo Point Cliffs
	Cliffs after sunset
Coordinates	27°28′43″S153°02′03″E / 27.478535°S 153.034036°E
Climbing type	Top Rope, Trad and Sport
Height	18 m
Quantity of rock	408 routes
Access	< 5 min

Last updated June 20, 2023

Kangaroo Point Cliffs Kangaroo-Point-Cliffs-photo-taken-September-2007.JPG — Kangaroo Point Cliffs

Kangaroo Point Cliffs parkland Kangaroo-Point-Cliffs-walking-track-photo-taken-September-2007.JPG — Kangaroo Point Cliffs parkland

The Kangaroo Point Cliffs are heritage-listed cliffs located at Kangaroo Point just across the Brisbane River from the Brisbane CBD in Queensland, Australia. A popular recreation spot, especially for climbing and running, they are conveniently close to the city and the South Bank Parklands. It can be reached by the Pacific Motorway, South East Busway or a ferry to Thornton Street ferry wharf. The cliffs were formed after stone was quarried from the site and used in the construction of a number of local structures in the Moreton Bay penal settlement.

History

The Kangaroo Point Cliffs were created by convicts mining the volcanic rock or ignimbrite or welded tuff which form the cliffs.^[2] These lavas and pyroclastic rocks were deposited in the Triassic Period about 230 million years ago and filled an ancient river valley. These rocks were known as porphyry and later became known as the geological unit called the Brisbane tuff.^[3]

Records indicate that it was Captain Patrick Logan, commandant of the Moreton Bay penal settlement, who first opened a quarry to supply stone to his building works as early as 1826.^[3] Those structures still standing today include The Old Windmill and the Commissariat Store.^[3]

From 1842, the quarry was rented to private stonemasons (including John Petrie, later the first Mayor of Brisbane) until it was taken over by the Brisbane Municipal Council in 1860. It continued to supply stone as sailing ballast for ships. The Rector of St Mary's Church above the quarry believed this was a wasteful use of the stone and convinced the Queensland Colonial Government to take over control, which it did in 1864.^[4]

In the 1880s, the government developed coal wharves along the southern end of the cliffs. They were serviced by a rail line and siding until the wharf was demolished in 1974.^[3] A marine defence depot was built at the foot of the northern end of the cliffs. It was used for storage and as a training facility.^[3] One of the buildings used by the depot remains today as the Naval Stores Museum.

Stone from the quarry was used to line parts of the Brisbane River with walls, for the Manly Boat Harbour and at the new Port of Brisbane. The quarry finally closed in 1976.^[3]

Climbing

The cliffs are situated on the east bank of the river north of the Maritime Museum and opposite the Queensland University of Technology. The area is a popular picnic and abseiling site. The Kangaroo Point Cliffs feature excellent rock climbing possibilities for all skill levels,^[5] being primarily a place for recreational climbing. The cliffs are mainly used as a training ground by South East Queensland's rock climbers. The cliff face is lit at night by numerous flood lights.^[6]

Facilities

At the base of the cliff, next to the Brisbane River, is a narrow strip of parkland. The park contains electric barbecues, tables and chairs, sculptures, toilets and ample views of the Captain Cook Bridge, Story Bridge, mangroves, the City Botanic Gardens and downtown buildings across the river. Native vegetation has been redeveloped into gardens which display a very natural design.

At the top of the cliffs is Scout Park. It was opened in 1982 to commemorate 75 years of the scouting movement in Queensland.^[3] A new park was created at the site of the former TAFE college in 2010.

Heritage listing

The cliffs were listed on the Queensland Heritage Register in 2003.^[7]

Related Research Articles

The Brisbane River is the longest river in South East Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay on the Coral Sea. John Oxley, the first European to explore the river, named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Sir Thomas Brisbane in 1823. The penal colony of Moreton Bay later adopted the same name, eventually becoming the present city of Brisbane. The river is a tidal estuary and the water is brackish from its mouth through the majority of the Brisbane metropolitan area westward to the Mount Crosby Weir. The river is wide and navigable throughout the Brisbane metropolitan area.

Brisbane is the capital and most populous city of Queensland, and the third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania with a population of approximately 2.6 million. Brisbane lies at the centre of South East Queensland, which includes several other regional centres and cities. The central business district is situated within a peninsula of the Brisbane River about 15 km (9 mi) from its mouth at Moreton Bay. Brisbane is located in the hilly floodplain of the Brisbane River Valley between Moreton Bay and the Taylor and D'Aguilar mountain ranges. It sprawls across several local government areas, most centrally the City of Brisbane. The demonym of Brisbane is Brisbanite.

Kangaroo Point is an inner southern suburb in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Kangaroo Point had a population of 8,063 people.

Brisbane City is the central suburb and central business district of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD" or "the city". It is located on a point on the northern bank of the Brisbane River, historically known as Meanjin, Mianjin or Meeanjin in the local Aboriginal Australian dialect. The triangular shaped area is bounded by the median of the Brisbane River to the east, south and west. The point, known at its tip as Gardens Point, slopes upward to the north-west where the city is bounded by parkland and the inner city suburb of Spring Hill to the north. The CBD is bounded to the north-east by the suburb of Fortitude Valley. To the west the CBD is bounded by Petrie Terrace, which in 2010 was reinstated as a suburb.

Hawthorne ferry wharf is a heritage-listed ferry wharf located on the southern side of the Brisbane River serving the Brisbane suburb of Hawthorne in Queensland, Australia. It is served by RiverCity Ferries' CityCat services. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2003.

Holman Street ferry wharf is a heritage-listed ferry wharf located on the southern side of the Brisbane River in Kangaroo Point, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is served by RiverCity Ferries' CityHopper and the Cross River service to Riverside wharf. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2004.

Tourism in Brisbane is an important industry for the Queensland economy, being the third-most popular destination for international tourists after Sydney and Melbourne.

Petrie Bight is a reach of the Brisbane River in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The land to the north of the bight, centred on the area under the Story Bridge's northern point and around the Brisbane River to Customs House is also known as Petrie Bight and was formerly a suburb of Brisbane. The area whilst still informally known as Petrie Bight, was absorbed into the suburbs of the Brisbane CBD and Fortitude Valley during consolidation of suburbs by the Brisbane City Council. With a resurgence in Brisbane residents interested in this part of the city and its history, has meant there is a possibility the Brisbane City Council and Queensland Government may once again reinstate Petrie Bight as a suburb to give the area a better sense of identity.

Howard Smith Wharves is a heritage-listed wharf on the Brisbane River at Boundary Street, Brisbane City and Fortitude Valley, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1934 to 1940s circa. It is also known as Brisbane Central Wharves. The 3.5-hectare (8.6-acre) site is one of the most culturally and historically significant riverfront locations in Brisbane. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 4 February 1997.

Yungaba Immigration Centre is a heritage-listed former immigration hostel at 102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, alongside the Brisbane River. It was designed by John James Clark and built c. 1885 by William Peter Clark. It is also known as Yungaba Immigration Depot, Immigration Barracks, and No.6 Australian General Hospital. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Housed in Brisbane's heritage listed Naval Stores, Riverlife is an adventure centre on the Kangaroo Point of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia providing leisure activities. It can be found via Lower River Terrance and is known for its guided kayaking tours, rock climbing instruction, and abseiling. It also offers equipment hire for, such as kayaks, mountain bikes, kick scooters and rollerblades.

Commissariat Store is a heritage-listed storehouse at 115–127 William Street, Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is bordered by William Street, Queen's Wharf Road and the Brisbane River, and is the birthplace of Queensland. It was designed by William John Dumaresq and built from 1828 to 1913 by convict labour under the direction of Captain Logan as a permanent Commissariat Store for the Moreton Bay penal settlement. It is also known as Government Stores, State Stores Building, and Colonial Store. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

Brisbane tuff is a type of rock, formed as a result of a volcanic eruption. As the name suggests, it is a type of tuff found in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is a form of welded ignimbrite. Brisbane tuff comes in a variety of colours: pink, green, blue (grey) and purple. The different colours are due to the extent of oxidation of iron and manganese.

Windsor Town Quarry Park and Tramways Substation No. 6 is a heritage-listed former quarry with electrical substation at 356 Lutwyche Road, Windsor in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1926 to c. 1928. The park and substation were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 31 May 2005. There is another, larger substation building, Tramways Substation No. 13 which was designed by Frank Gibson Costello and became operational in June 1949.

Naval Stores is a heritage-listed storehouse at 34 Amesbury Street, Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1886 to 1900s. It is also known as Naval Brigade Stores and Naval Depot. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 21 October 1992.

The Early Streets of Brisbane is a heritage-listed archaeological site at sections of Albert Street, George Street, William Street, North Quay, and Queen's Wharf Road in Brisbane City, City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1825 onwards. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 16 July 2010.

The Moreton Bay Penal Settlement operated from 1825 to 1842. It became the city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Dunwich Convict Causeway is a heritage-listed causeway at Junner Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. It was built in 1827 by convict labour for the Moreton Bay penal settlement. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 22 October 1999.

Dunwich Public Reserve is a heritage-listed archaeological site at Junner Street, Dunwich, North Stradbroke Island in the City of Redland, Queensland, Australia. It was built from 1827 to 1828. It is also known as Privy Pit, Convict Barracks, and Convict Store within the Moreton Bay penal settlement. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 25 February 2000.

The Geography of Brisbane is characterised by its coastal location in the south eastern corner of the Queensland state of Australia. It is located precisely halfway up the Australian east coast with longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of 27.5° south and 153° east. The city resides within the Moreton Bay Floodplain, stretching from Caboolture to the north, Beenleigh to the south and as far as Ipswich to the west whilst being bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east.

References

↑ "Kangaroo Point Crag Guide". theCrag.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.
↑ Gregory, Helen (2007). Brisbane Then and Now. Wingfield, South Australia: Salamander Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-74173-011-1.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gregory, Helen; Dianne Mclay (2010). Building Brisbane's History: Structure, Sculptures, Stories and Secrets. Warriewood, New South Wales: Woodslane Press. pp. 180–184. ISBN 9781921606199.
↑ William J. Job (2003). The Building of Brisbane, 1828-1940. University of Queensland Press. p. 106. ISBN 0702232661.
↑ Carter, Darrin (2003). Kangaroo Point Climbing Guide (Version 4.0 ed.). Height Dynamics.
↑ Kangaroo Point Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Tourism Guide. Retrieved on 2013-11-07.
↑ "Kangaroo Point Cliffs (entry 602400)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.

External links

Kangaroo Point Climbing Guide on theCrag.com
List of routes from the Australian Climbing Association

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
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[1] "Kangaroo Point Crag Guide". theCrag.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011. Retrieved 15 March 2011.

[thenandnow-2] Gregory, Helen (2007). Brisbane Then and Now. Wingfield, South Australia: Salamander Books. p. 86. ISBN 978-1-74173-011-1.

[bbh-3] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gregory, Helen; Dianne Mclay (2010). Building Brisbane's History: Structure, Sculptures, Stories and Secrets. Warriewood, New South Wales: Woodslane Press. pp. 180–184. ISBN 9781921606199.

[4] William J. Job (2003). The Building of Brisbane, 1828-1940. University of Queensland Press. p. 106. ISBN 0702232661.

[5] Carter, Darrin (2003). Kangaroo Point Climbing Guide (Version 4.0 ed.). Height Dynamics.

[6] Kangaroo Point Archived 2013-10-22 at the Wayback Machine Brisbane Tourism Guide. Retrieved on 2013-11-07.

[7] "Kangaroo Point Cliffs (entry 602400)". Queensland Heritage Register . Queensland Heritage Council. Retrieved 6 July 2013.

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