Whispering waters. That’s the first thing you notice about Cedar Creek. A haven of babbling brooks and towering trees. It’s hard to believe this natural beauty is so close to Brisbane’s city centre. Just 40 minutes north-west.
Cedar Creek’s history stretches back to the early 1800s. Land was first inhabited then. It later became a cattle station in the mid-1850s. The area was subdivided into properties in the 1870s. A 200-acre block cost 200 pounds back then. Aborigines lived beside Cedar Creek in the early 1900s. Unfortunately there’s no documentation of its Indigenous history before that time.
Despite its name Cedar Creek boasts not a single cedar tree. The area was once famous for its excellent timber. Pine and red cedar were particularly prized. Logging thrived. It eventually died out due to oversupply. The cedar is gone but the timber lives on. Many Brisbane churches were built using it. Even Macarthur Chambers in Brisbane City uses pink granite mined from Cedar Creek.
The 1920s saw a shift. Dairying and pig farming became popular. The fertile land supported a variety of crops. Pineapples and bananas were particularly successful. The banana industry was devastated by Bunchy Top disease ten years later. The land remains fertile. Market gardens thrive with rich soil and plentiful water. Farmer’s markets were once held here every Sunday. They moved to North Pine Country Park in 1987 due to increased popularity.
A school was built in the 1920s. It was named Closeburn. Many other schools were already called Cedar Creek. Locals collected mail from the train station. Mail often went astray. The train station and the area were renamed Closeburn to avoid confusion. Residents travelling to the city left their horses at the local shop. The shopkeeper kindly unsaddled them if they were running late.
Stories from the Samford District Historical Society paint a vivid picture of life in Cedar Creek. Locals washed clothes in the creek. Laundries were set up along the banks. Kerosene tins boiled the clothes. Clothes were hung on lines further up the bank. Cedar Creek Hall was built in 1925. Timber was donated by residents. Bands performed on Saturday nights. Dances and card parties were held. Supper was provided. The area didn’t have electricity until after World War II. Bonfires were lit for Guy Fawkes Night in Upper Cedar Creek.
Tragedy struck. In June 1913 11-year-old Ivy Mitchell was murdered. Her body was found beside lollies and flowers. Her murderer was the last man executed in Queensland in 1913. Another sad story involves 13-year-old Hattie Hunter. She drowned in 1999 trying to save her dog Belle. A plaque honours her memory. A young boy was accidentally shot while hunting parrots.
Swimming and picnics were popular pastimes. Albert Eaton provided land for a picnic ground. The creek was once clear. Mullet wild duck and water hens were abundant. The fresh water was better than tank water. Children chased eels and catfish. The waterfalls are on the Upper Cedar Creek property. Andy Williams and his family owned it. Andy Williams Park is now a prime spot for a picnic.
Overuse pollution and vandalism plagued Cedar Creek in the early 2000s. Exotic weeds polluted the water. A police crackdown reduced anti-social behaviour. The road to the waterfalls is now private property. You can park nearby and walk along the creek bed to reach them.
Today Cedar Creek remains a charming place. You might spot a cockatoo kookaburra goat or llama. Platypus sightings are possible. Look for a gargoyle-topped stone bridge. Plenty of places to paddle. Andy Williams Park is perfect for a picnic. Buy a haven close to town. Properties offer a rural atmosphere but avoid isolation. Shops are just ten minutes away. Cedar Creek whispers stories of the past and invites you to make your own memories.