Googong Foreshores facts for kids

The Googong Foreshores is a special historical area in New South Wales, Australia. It's located near the Googong Dam and holds many important stories from before the dam was built. This place is also known as the Googong Foreshores Cultural and Geodiversity Heritage Areas. It was added to the Commonwealth Heritage List on November 3, 2017, because of its unique history and natural features.

A Journey Through Time at Googong Foreshores

Googong Foreshores has a long and interesting past. It tells us about the lives of Aboriginal people, early settlers, and how the land itself has changed over millions of years.

Aboriginal History and Culture

Long ago, Aboriginal people lived in the area around the Queanbeyan River. Googong Foreshores shows us proof of their lives. We can find places where they left stone tools. There are also scarred trees, which are trees where bark was removed for canoes or shelters. Some stone piles, called cairns, might even be ancient burial sites. Digs have found old campfires from about 700 to 900 years ago.

Early European Settlement

In 1823, Captain Mark Currie explored this region. He was the first to describe the amazing "London Bridge" arch. He also named the Monaro Plains. A few years later, in 1834, Joseph Kenyon tried to start a cattle farm. But he had to leave because the land was too tough.

The Burra and London Bridge Estates

Two large farms were set up here, divided by Burra Creek. William Hutchinson owned the "Burra Estate" on the west bank from 1836. On the east bank, John McNamara Sr. bought land in 1857. This area later became known as "London Bridge." In 1872, McNamara bought more land from the Burra Estate. He then started farming sheep.

John McNamara Sr. passed away in 1901. His son, John McNamara Jr., took over the property. But in 1904, a big part of the London Bridge land was sold. In 1908, McNamara Jr. and his family moved to Sydney. They leased the farm to Fred Campbell, who put Arthur Warwick in charge.

The lease ended in 1912. McNamara Jr. then leased the farm to his neighbor, James Moore. McNamara Jr. returned to London Bridge in 1914 but died there in 1915. The Moores continued to lease the farm until 1921. Then, Edward and Jim Noone bought the property.

Changes at London Bridge Homestead

Robert Douglas bought London Bridge Homestead in 1928. Sheep shearing stopped at the old woolshed that same year. Douglas built a new woolshed during the Depression years. An orchard was also planted or made bigger around this time. In 1954, electricity came to London Bridge Homestead.

Creating Googong Dam

In 1973, the Australian government bought over 5,000 hectares of land. This included the London Bridge area. The land was needed to create the Googong Reservoir Foreshores. Andrew Douglas leased a part of the London Bridge Homestead property back. In 1974, a law was passed to manage the Googong Dam area. This law gave control to the Australian Capital Territory Executive.

The construction of Googong Dam finished in 1978. In 1983, a plan was made to protect the London Bridge Homestead. More work to preserve the homestead was done in 1999.

What You Can See at Googong Foreshores

The Googong Foreshores Cultural and Geodiversity Heritage Area covers about 223 hectares. Much of this land was cleared for farming in the past. Burra Creek, a small river, flows through the area. You can also find a group of old farm buildings. These include the London Bridge Homestead and a woolshed.

London Bridge Homestead Buildings

The London Bridge Homestead buildings are close to Burra Creek. They are arranged in an "L" shape. There are four main buildings in this group. These include a stone cottage and a slab hut. There is also a lath and plaster building and a weatherboard building.

Woolshed and Shearer's Quarters

About 1.5 kilometers away from the homestead, you'll find the woolshed. This is where sheep were shorn. Nearby are the shearer's quarters, where the workers lived.

The Amazing London Bridge Arch

A truly special natural feature here is the London Bridge Arch. It's a natural limestone arch that forms a bridge over Burra Creek. This arch formed over a very long time. It happened as the creek eroded the limestone. The limestone contains fossils of ancient sea creatures. These include brachiopods, corals, and trilobites.

The arch is about 34 meters long and 5 meters high. There are also two caves above the arch, called Douglas and Burra caves. These caves used to be old creek passages. They contain ancient fossil deposits.

Condition of the Heritage Area

The buildings at London Bridge Homestead are in good shape. They have been cared for well over the years. Most of their original parts are still there.

The London Bridge Arch is also in good condition. There is some minor damage inside the caves. Visitors have compacted some cave deposits over time. Some surface fossils have also been damaged. You can also see old graffiti inside the Douglas and Burra caves. The land around the arch was mostly used for farming.

Why Googong Foreshores is Important

The Googong Foreshores Cultural and Geodiversity Heritage Area is very important. It helps us understand the history of farming, Aboriginal life, and the geology of the region.

A Place of History and Learning

This area shows us how people settled and farmed in the past. The buildings tell us about how people lived long ago. They also show us old building methods from the 1800s and early 1900s.

The London Bridge Arch and its caves are also very important. They help us understand how natural arches form. The caves also give us clues about ancient plants and animals.

Unique Features and Research Opportunities

Googong Foreshores is special because it has rare examples of old rural buildings. The London Bridge Homestead and its farm buildings are unique.

The London Bridge Arch and its caves are also a rare geological formation. They are important for studying how landscapes change. The caves have rich fossil deposits. These fossils can teach us about animals that lived here long ago. Some of these animals are now extinct in the area.

Beautiful Scenery

The London Bridge Arch is a beautiful natural landmark. People in the local community really value its dramatic shape. The flowing water of Burra Creek adds to its beauty.

The London Bridge Homestead buildings also have a lovely, old-fashioned look. Visitors enjoy walking around the homestead. The views of the buildings in their rural setting are very picturesque.