High on the Mt Nebo road, McAfees Lookout awaits. It offers views and a glimpse into Brisbane’s natural tapestry.
McAfees Lookout is more than just a scenic spot. It is a place to connect with the region’s diverse environment. Imagine the scene from McAfees Lookout on a faultless July day. Nine nature enthusiasts embarked on an excursion, led by David Bouchard. McAfees Lookout was a checkpoint for a trail running event that day. The runners started from Mt Coot-tha. Fortunately, they were not on the ridge the group descended to the creek.
The ridge near McAfees Lookout is covered in tall eucalypt forest. Grey gum, iron bark and brush box trees are common. Rainforest species form the understory. Past logging caused disturbance. Lantana is now a common shrub. Nearing the creek, the eucalypt forest transitions to a drier rainforest. Hoop pines emerge here. Weeping lillipillies line the creek itself.
The group saw interesting things on the ridge near McAfees Lookout. A large woody vine stumped them. It was 20cm in diameter. It had no easily observable leaves. Upon closer inspection, they noticed thorns. It was an old cockspur thorn. Native ginger with scalloped leaves caught their eyes. Leaf cutter bees may have caused the scalloping. Native holly was quite common too. Its foliage resembles European holly.
Six of the group continued to Enoggera Creek. The creek had receded to a stony bed. Shallow pools remained after record flooding in 2022. Here they observed a smell of the bush plant. It is more often smelt than seen. Judy kindly took five members back up the ridge. Trail running officials welcomed them rapturously. Four continued beside Enoggera Creek. They passed through the dry rainforest. They returned by the fire break. They saw a python tree with smooth mottled bark. It had a large spreading root system. Plum pines were also noted. They do not have their seeds in a cone. Instead, seeds grow at the end of a fleshy plum.
D’Aguilar National Park surrounds McAfees Lookout. It has diverse habitats. These include eucalypt forests, woodlands and rainforest pockets. Rocky outcrops and freshwater ecosystems exist here. Over 200 native animal species are protected. Platypus are seen in creeks and waterholes. The Mount Glorious spiny crayfish lives only in Mount Glorious creek systems. The spotted-tail quoll was once common. It has not been sighted for many years. The Mount Glorious torrent frog has not been seen since 1979.
Two vulnerable macadamia species grow near McAfees Lookout. The edible Queensland nut grows to the north. The inedible Maroochy nut grows to the south. The newly discovered Mount Glorious water spider also lives here. The delicate native shrub Corchorus cunninghamii is present too. Giant ironwood, Hiller’s snub-nosed katydid and the D’Aguilar Range assassin spider can be found.
The D’Aguilar Range has cultural value for Jinibara and Turrbal people. Forests and creeks provide food, medicine and resources. Sacred sites include artefact scatters and bora rings. Europeans arrived in the 1840s. They were farmers and timber-getters. Much of the country was cleared for farming. Red cedar and hoop pine were used to build houses in Brisbane. Gold prospectors staked claims around the 1860s. Mines produced little gold and were abandoned in the 1950s.
Timber reserves were gazetted in 1918. Extensive logging occurred after World War II. Small areas were protected as scenic reserves. The first national park on the D’Aguilar Range was gazetted in 1930. It was named National Park, Mount D’Aguilar. A reserve was created at Mount Glorious in 1935. It became Maiala National Park in 1938. Other national parks followed.
In 1977, a recreation area was formed. It was made up of national parks and council reserves. It was known as Brisbane Forest Park. In 1994, D’Aguilar National Park was declared. Mount Mee State Forest was added in 2000. D’Aguilar National Park is now one of the largest national parks near Brisbane.
From McAfees Lookout, you see a blend of nature and history. It is a place to appreciate Brisbane’s doorstep wilderness. Take a moment to reflect on the layers of time and nature that have shaped this special place.