Perhaps Mt. Coot-tha’s name holds a secret. Indigenous people called this area “Coot-tha” or “Kuta”. It meant “honey” or “place of honey”. Today we explore Mt. Coot-tha.
Mt. Coot-tha is more than a mountain. It is a landmark visible across Brisbane. It’s a bushland tourist destination. It features the Mt. Coot-tha Lookout and Brisbane Botanic Gardens. There is also the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium.
Once known as One-Tree-Hill, Mt. Coot-tha offers panoramic views. The Taylor Range, now Mt. Coot-tha, was named Glenmorrison Range by John Oxley in 1823. European explorers first ascended it in 1828.
In 1865, a request to purchase One-Tree-Hill was denied. The Surveyor-General wanted it for surveying. It was also a popular recreation spot due to its views and fresh air. Timber from the Taylor Range aided railway development from Ipswich to Brisbane. In 1880, One-Tree-Hill became a public recreation reserve. That’s when its name officially changed to Mt. Coot-tha.
Mr. HW Radford learned the aboriginal name from a descendant. So, One-Tree-Hill became Mt. Coot-tha. By the 1870s, people drove horse carriages to the summit. The track improved into a steep, windy road. In 1886, they built a shelter shed and water tank. Mt. Coot-tha became a reserve for native birds in 1890.
The Saturday half-holiday increased recreation. By 1918, well-made roads allowed easy access to Mt. Coot-tha. This road became Sir Samuel Griffith Drive.
In 1918, the Greater Brisbane Council took over administration. A new kiosk was built next to the shelter shed. The first shelter shed had open sides and a water tank. By 1886, it had tables, forms, and fireplaces. The caretaker’s wife served teas to visitors.
By 1912, a small timber kitchen stood near the shed. Around 1918, a larger kiosk was constructed. A 1928 plan shows the shelter shed, kiosk, and detached kitchen. In 1928, the kiosk doubled in size. A two-story extension provided living quarters. They demolished the shelter shed and added a fleche and chimney. The roof was resheeted with red fibro cement tiles.
In 1950, extensions and alterations occurred. They extended town water supply to a high-level tank. A circular drive, new entrance, lounge, and lavatories appeared. Later that year, they extended living quarters and built a timber tankstand. The current terra-cotta roof tiles are from after 1950.
Looking at the view has always been popular at Mt. Coot-tha. In 1882, the Duke of Clarence and Prince George planted Moreton Bay Fig trees. By 1902, a stone pillar with directional lines marked landmarks. There were also railings and a telescope. A small viewing gazebo was built around 1918. In 1927, the Duke and Duchess of York visited Mt. Coot-tha. In 1950, a raised viewing platform was built.
Mt. Coot-tha has another side to its history. Some parts have seen illegal activities. There have been disappearances and murders. In 2017, bush walkers found human skeletal remains. A human skull discovered in 2016 linked to a 2014 missing person case. The disappearance of Steven Goldsmith in 2000 remains unsolved. Elizabeth Baldock was found dead in her car in 1997 and her killer was never found.
There are also stories from the 20th century of suicides at Mt. Coot-tha. In 1927, Cecilia Josephine Miller was murdered. Her boyfriend then attempted suicide. In 1926, two employees died by suicide. One at Mt. Coot-tha and the other at North Quay. In 1925, Margaret Francis Sinclaire Donald was shot.
Mt. Coot-tha blends beauty and darkness. Enjoy the views. Remember its complex past.