Whites Hill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Whites Hill Reserve
Type	Nature park
Location	Brisbane, Australia
Area	170 hectares (1.7 km2)
Owned by	Brisbane City Council

Whites Hill is a hill located in the Camp Hill area of Brisbane, Australia. Around the hill is the Whites Hill Reserve. This is a public park that covers over 170 hectares (420 acres) of land. It offers many fun activities and sports facilities. Whites Hill is also part of the Bulimba Creek area.

History of Whites Hill Reserve

The original name for this area, used by the local Indigenous people, was Boolimba. This name means "place of magpie larks."

Whites Hill is named after Robert (Bob) White. In 1873, he bought about 21.5 hectares (53 acres) of land around the hill. The hill itself is about 120 metres (390 ft) high. The White family built their home halfway up the hill. In 1886, Bob White put a powerful telescope there. He even let other people use it to look at the stars.

Later, White built a road to the top of the hill. He built a large house with big verandahs. These verandahs offered amazing views of Brisbane city. Soon, the house was opened to the public. People could come for tea and meals. Bob White also sold alcohol, but this was against the law at the time. He was even charged for it in 1890.

The house became very popular. Many groups used it for outings. These included church groups, sports teams, and science meetings. Bob White also had disagreements with the local authorities. They argued about the roads leading to his property. It was tricky because two different local councils were involved.

Later, a special device called a camera obscura was built. It projected the Brisbane skyline onto a large, round table. This, along with a music machine, made the house perfect for parties. Many weddings and celebrations took place there.

In 1924, the Brisbane City Council wanted to buy the land. They offered Bob White a lot of money, but he said no. He lived on the property until he passed away in 1927. After his death, the land was sold to the council for a lower price.

During World War II, Whites Hill was a great spot for watching the area. The army used the hill for training. The house stayed on the land until 1964. It was taken down because of repeated damage.

Soon after, the land became a reserve. A part of it was made into a public park. This park has a playground, barbecue areas, and toilets. Since the 1980s, more developments have happened. Now, there are sports clubs for cricket, soccer, and touch football. There are also many kilometres of walking tracks. One track leads to a lookout on Whites Hill. It gives great views of the Brisbane city centre. Another lookout on Sankey's Mountain looks out towards the coast.

The reserve also used to have a Landfill and Recycling facility. This closed in 1994. Some parts of the reserve were also used as a quarry. But local community groups have worked hard to fix up that land.

Nature and Wildlife

Whites Hill Reserve has a long ridge that goes from Pine Mountain to Whites Hill. Whites Hill is the highest point at 120 metres (390 ft). The reserve is home to many local animals. A survey in 1981 found 58 types of birds, 1 type of mammal, and 4 types of reptiles.

Today, you can also find koalas living in the reserve. Other animals include echidnas, small skinks, and swamp wallabies.

The reserve has many different trees. These include tallowwood, Grey Gum, Brush Box, Queensland Blue Gum, and White Mahogany. There are also small areas of Rainforest. The Brisbane City Council helps protect the reserve from bushfires. They do this by carefully burning small sections of bushland. This helps stop bigger fires from spreading if there's an emergency. The reserve also has several fire trails.

Things to Do and Facilities

Whites Hill Reserve has many sports clubs and recreation areas. These are important for people in the local community.

The Eastern Districts Junior Cricket Association has been at Whites Hill for over 45 years. The Holland Park Junior Cricket Club now manages the cricket facilities. These include four cricket pitches and practice nets.

The Holland Park Hawks soccer club also uses the reserve. They have two full-size soccer fields and a clubhouse.

On the eastern side of Whites Hill, there are seven fully lit touch football fields. The Brisbane Metropolitan Touch Association manages these fields. They are Australia's only dedicated touch football facility. Games are played five nights a week. The venue also hosts big events like the Queensland All Schools competition every October.

The reserve also has barbecue areas and playgrounds. There are also large open areas of bushland for everyone to enjoy.

Images for kids

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  Fijian cricketers posing with the Whites Hill tearooms in the background

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  A Talbot touring car at Whites Hill in 1911

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  Aerial photography of Whites Hill tearooms on 20 April 1936