Mount Cordeaux facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Cordeaux |
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|---|---|
| Niamboyoo | |
Mount Cordeaux is to the right of gap in the range
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,135 m (3,724 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Cordeaux
Location in Queensland
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| Parent range | Main Range National Park |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Volcanic |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Walking track |
Mount Cordeaux is a mountain in Queensland, Australia, near Brisbane. It stands 1,135 meters (about 3,724 feet) tall. This mountain is found just north of Cunninghams Gap within the beautiful Main Range National Park. The local Aboriginal people call it Niamboyoo.
Long ago, in 1927, people thought Mount Cordeaux was impossible to climb. But today, there are walking paths that lead to a lookout point just below the very top. From this lookout, you can see amazing views of other mountains in the Scenic Rim area. You can also look down into the Fassifern Valley and see the Mistake Range in the distance. Remember to be careful when walking, as there are steep cliffs along the trails.
Discovery and Naming
The first European to find and name Mount Cordeaux was a botanist named Allan Cunningham in 1828. He named the mountain after William Cordeaux. William Cordeaux was an assistant to Sir Thomas Mitchell, who was a very important surveyor.
Plant Life on the Mountain
The lower parts of Mount Cordeaux are covered in thick rainforest. As you go higher up the mountain, you'll find different types of plants. These include montane heath plants and grasstrees. A special plant called the giant rock lily grows very well on the slopes of Mount Cordeaux.
Many years ago, in the early 1900s, people harvested a lot of trees from this area. This means that many large trees like red cedar and hoop pine are not as common there now.
Early Climbs
It's a bit of a mystery who first climbed to the very top of Mount Cordeaux. One story says that a group of five people made it to the peak on December 29, 1910. This group included Mr. T.B. Roscoe and Mr. James H. Bell with three of his sons. To remember their climb, they carved their initials and the date into a rock at the summit.
However, another report says that Mr. M.T. O'Connor and W.M. Garland climbed the mountain earlier, on February 30, 1910. They even said they saw marks on trees that made them think someone else had climbed it before them.
Gold Mining History
If you walk along the path to the top of Mount Cordeaux today, you might see some old signs of mining. There are remains of three attempts to find gold: a horizontal tunnel, a deep shaft, and an open trench. The shaft and trench are now fenced off for safety. In 1933, the people who owned the mining rights asked for permission to build a road to their mining area. At that time, they had already done a lot of work there.
