Mount Petrie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Petrie |
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The top of Mount Petrie
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 170 m (560 ft) |
| Listing | List of mountains in Australia |
| Geography | |
 Mount Petrie
Location in Queensland
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| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Andrew Petrie |
Mount Petrie is a small mountain located in the south-east part of Brisbane, Australia. It stands about 170 meters (558 feet) tall and is sometimes called Petrie Hill. This mountain is found in the semi-rural areas of Mackenzie and Burbank.
History of Mount Petrie
Mount Petrie was named after Andrew Petrie. He was a supervisor of building projects in the early Moreton Bay Colony. In 1838, Andrew Petrie got lost in the bush with Major Cotton, who was the leader of the colony. They climbed this mountain to figure out where they were. People believe this was the first time white explorers climbed Mount Petrie.
What's at the Top?
At the southern part of the mountain's peak, there's an old triangulation station. This is a special marker used by surveyors to measure distances and create maps. There used to be a radio tower there, but it has fallen down. From the very top of Mount Petrie, you can see amazing views of Brisbane city and Moreton Bay.
Nature and Environment
For many years, the wild bushland around Mount Petrie was mostly empty. This was partly because it was close to the Belmont Rifle Range, where access is limited for safety reasons. The bushland near Mount Petrie is a very important home for many animals, including koalas, wallabys, and echidnas.
A few kilometers east of Mount Petrie, you'll find the Leslie Harrison Dam. This means Mount Petrie is part of the catchment area for Redland City's water supply. This is another reason why not much building has happened in this part of the city. In 2008, new facilities were built for the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project, which changed some of the bushland on the mountain.
Mount Petrie is one of the tallest mountains in Brisbane. The other two are Mount Coot-tha and Mount Gravatt. The Gateway Motorway passes a few kilometers to the west of Mount Petrie.
1942 Aircraft Incident
On February 20, 1942, a Qantas passenger plane, a de Havilland 86 named "Sydney", had a tragic accident. It crashed near the base of Mount Petrie.
