Mount Coot-tha, Queensland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Coot-thaBrisbane, Queensland |
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Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha, Queensland
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 Mount Coot-tha
Location in Queensland
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| Postcode(s) | 4066 | ||||||||||||||
| Area | 14.7 km2 (5.7 sq mi) | ||||||||||||||
| Time zone | AEST (UTC+10:00) | ||||||||||||||
| Location | 10.4 km (6 mi) W of Brisbane CBD | ||||||||||||||
| LGA(s) | City of Brisbane (Pullenvale and Walter Taylor Wards) |
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| State electorate(s) |
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| Federal Division(s) | Ryan | ||||||||||||||
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Mount Coot-tha is a famous mountain and a suburb in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It's a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. You can see it from many parts of the city. Mount Coot-tha is home to the amazing Mount Coot-tha Lookout, the beautiful Brisbane Botanic Gardens, and the exciting Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. It also has fun bike trails, walking paths, and even a waterfall!
Contents
Exploring Mount Coot-tha
Mount Coot-tha is part of the Taylor Range. It is about 6 kilometers (4 miles) west of Brisbane's city center. This mountain is where Ithaca Creek begins.
Mountain Peaks
Mount Coot-tha has several peaks, or high points:
- Constitution Hill: 263 meters (863 feet) high.
- Mount Coot-tha: 226 meters (741 feet) high.
- The Pinnacle: 168 meters (551 feet) high.
- The Summit: 287 meters (942 feet) high.
Sir Samuel Griffith Scenic Drive is a road that loops around the mountain. It takes you past these peaks. Along this road, you can find the Mount Coot-tha Lookout. This lookout has a cafe and a restaurant. You can also see the tall television and radio towers at The Summit. The road also leads to picnic spots and trails for walking and cycling.
Many people think Mount Coot-tha is the highest point in Brisbane. But, as you can see from the heights above, The Summit and Constitution Hill are actually taller. However, the Mount Coot-tha Lookout offers the best views of Brisbane. There are even higher mountains further west in Brisbane, but they are harder to reach. For fun and tourism, Mount Coot-tha is the easiest high point to visit with great views.
Botanic Gardens and More
At the base of the mountain, you'll find the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. This is a huge area with many interesting plants. On the same site, you can visit the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. There's also a special library branch that focuses on plants and space. The Queensland Herbarium is also located here.
Between the gardens and the mountain is the Mount Coot-tha Quarry. This quarry digs up strong rock used to build roads and other structures in Brisbane. It has provided material for most of Brisbane's roads for many years.
History of Mount Coot-tha
Long ago, the Yugara Aboriginal people lived around Mount Coot-tha. They came here to gather ku-ta, which is their word for honey from native stingless bees. This is how the mountain got its name!
Early Days and Name Change
In 1839, a surveyor named James Warner cleared the top of the mountain. He left only one large eucalyptus tree. This single tree could be seen from far away. So, people started calling the mountain One Tree Hill. It was used as a landmark for measuring land.
Later, in 1873, the forests on the mountain became a timber reserve. This meant trees were cut down to help build Queensland's growing railway system.
In 1883, the area became a park. The name was changed from One Tree Hill to Coot-tha. This name was suggested by Henry Wyatt Radford. It means "honey" in the Aboriginal language.
Quarry and World War II
In the 1890s, a quarry was started on the mountain. The Brisbane City Council took over the quarry in 1925.
During World War II, Mount Coot-tha was an important military base. The RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) and the US Navy used it. It became a huge storage area for explosives. At one point, it held over 120,000 tonnes of explosive weapons! Soldiers used searchlights at the lookout to watch for enemy planes. Anti-aircraft guns were also placed there.
New Gardens and Planetarium
In 1970, the Brisbane City Council started building new botanic gardens at the base of Mount Coot-tha. The old gardens in the city center often flooded. The new gardens officially opened in 1976. They became the main Brisbane Botanic Gardens.
The Mount Coot-tha Library opened in 1975 within the Botanic Gardens. It has special books about plants and gardening.
On May 24, 1978, the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium opened in the Botanic Gardens. It's a great place to learn about stars and space!
Recent Events
In 2005, a difficult walking trail called the Currawong trail was renamed the Kokoda trail. This was to honor Australian soldiers who walked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea during World War II.
In 2017, there was a plan to build a long flying fox (zip line) from the top of Mount Coot-tha down to the Botanic Gardens. The Brisbane City Council first approved it. But in 2019, the project was canceled because many people protested against it.
Visiting the Lookout
Mount Coot-tha Lookout is one of Brisbane's most popular places to visit. It's a common stop for bus tours. At the Lookout, you'll find the Kuta Cafe, Summit Restaurant, and a Gift Shop.
The lookout, restaurant, and cafe offer amazing views of the city. You can see for miles!
Mount Coot-tha Reserve
The Mount Coot-tha Reserve is a huge area of natural bushland, over 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres). It's home to many native animals and plants. You can find J C Slaughter Falls here, which is a lovely waterfall. The reserve also connects to Brisbane Forest Park, adding even more natural space.
Television and Radio Towers
On a ridge near the summit of Mount Coot-tha, you can see many tall towers. These are the transmission towers for Brisbane's television stations like Ten, Nine, and Seven. The ABC Brisbane tower is also here, which broadcasts for SBS too. Most of Brisbane's FM radio stations also send their signals from Mount Coot-tha.
Brisbane Botanic Gardens
The Brisbane Botanic Gardens are a fantastic place to explore plants from all over the world. They have a tropical hothouse, a beautiful Japanese garden, and areas with plants from dry climates (arid zone) and Pacific Islands. A big part of the gardens shows off native Australian plants, especially those from Queensland. There's even an artificial lagoon!
Library
Mount Coot-tha has a public library located within the Brisbane Botanic Gardens. This library is special because it focuses on botany (the study of plants) and astronomy (the study of space). This makes sense since it's next to the gardens and the Brisbane Planetarium.
Walking Tracks
There are many popular walking tracks around Mount Coot-tha. Some even have art displays by local Aboriginal artists. The tracks have different difficulty levels, from easy strolls to uphill climbs with steps. Many hikers use these tracks to train for the challenging Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, as the conditions are similar.
Mountain Bike Trails
The western side of Mount Coot-tha Forest, also known as Gap Creek Reserve, is a favorite spot for mountain bikers. The Brisbane City Council has built a great network of mountain bike trails here. These trails offer different challenges for off-road cyclists.
The mountain bike trails at Mount Coot-tha are graded based on their difficulty. Some multi-use trails are less technical but can be steep and loose. Riders should be careful, especially over erosion control banks. These trails are also used by horses and walkers. Each year, orienteering events are held in the area.
Getting There
You can reach Mount Coot-tha by taking Brisbane Transport Bus 471 (part of Translink). You can also take a short taxi ride from Toowong, or use ride-sharing services like Uber. Parking at the lookout can be limited, especially on busy days.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Coot-tha para niños
