The Rock Through My Window: Cooroora
This prominent intrusive plug is composed of comendite, which is an alkali rhyolite (similar composition to that of several of the Glass House Mountains including Mts Tibrogargan, Ngungun, Conowrin, Beerwah, Wild Horse, Cooee, Tunbubudla and Tibberoowuccum). Columnar jointing is obvious in some faces of the mountain, especially this NW face. It predates the Glass House Mountains though it is also dated as of Tertiary age. Like the Glass House Mountains, Cooroora is a denuded plug, its surrounding cone and pyroclasts have been eroded away leaving the plug prominent in the landscape.
It is a landmark in South Queensland. Its aboriginal name has been used to name the local electorate of Legislative Assembly, Queensland Parliament from 1912-1992. In the 1920s this electorate stretched from the northern edges of Brisbane north to Maroochydore, including Redcliffe, Caboolture, Caloundra, but not the mountain itself!
In its early European history, Cooroora was mistaken by Bidwill, the government botanist based at Maryborough, for Beerwah, the tallest of the Glass House Mountains. Bidwill was attempting to find a land route to Brisbane, and when he saw Cooroora he believed that he would find Durundur homestead nearby. His companion aboriginal man assured him that there was no European settlement near this mountain, but Bidwill was sure he recognized it. He later had to write an apologetic letter explaining why he hadn't first succeeded and why it had taken him so long to accomplish his intended purpose.
Incidentally, many have climbed this peak, competitively in the "King of the Mountain" race, but one achievement stands out from the rest: Winn Stehbens climbed and descended this peak, unaided, when she was 89 years old. Today she is 104 and sadly no longer mobile.
The KIng of the Mountain race (no longer run) commenced and finished in the town of Pomona requiring an ascent and descent of the mountain. The open records for the race are: Open Men - Jorge Navarro 31 min 15 sec; Open Women - Ange Harries 40 min 22 sec; Masters 50+ years Men - Amos Saraber 39 min 18 sec; Masters 50+ Women - Wendy Flanagan 56 min 22 sec.
The Rock Through My Window: Cooroora
This prominent intrusive plug is composed of comendite, which is an alkali rhyolite (similar composition to that of several of the Glass House Mountains including Mts Tibrogargan, Ngungun, Conowrin, Beerwah, Wild Horse, Cooee, Tunbubudla and Tibberoowuccum). Columnar jointing is obvious in some faces of the mountain, especially this NW face. It predates the Glass House Mountains though it is also dated as of Tertiary age. Like the Glass House Mountains, Cooroora is a denuded plug, its surrounding cone and pyroclasts have been eroded away leaving the plug prominent in the landscape.
It is a landmark in South Queensland. Its aboriginal name has been used to name the local electorate of Legislative Assembly, Queensland Parliament from 1912-1992. In the 1920s this electorate stretched from the northern edges of Brisbane north to Maroochydore, including Redcliffe, Caboolture, Caloundra, but not the mountain itself!
In its early European history, Cooroora was mistaken by Bidwill, the government botanist based at Maryborough, for Beerwah, the tallest of the Glass House Mountains. Bidwill was attempting to find a land route to Brisbane, and when he saw Cooroora he believed that he would find Durundur homestead nearby. His companion aboriginal man assured him that there was no European settlement near this mountain, but Bidwill was sure he recognized it. He later had to write an apologetic letter explaining why he hadn't first succeeded and why it had taken him so long to accomplish his intended purpose.
Incidentally, many have climbed this peak, competitively in the "King of the Mountain" race, but one achievement stands out from the rest: Winn Stehbens climbed and descended this peak, unaided, when she was 89 years old. Today she is 104 and sadly no longer mobile.
The KIng of the Mountain race (no longer run) commenced and finished in the town of Pomona requiring an ascent and descent of the mountain. The open records for the race are: Open Men - Jorge Navarro 31 min 15 sec; Open Women - Ange Harries 40 min 22 sec; Masters 50+ years Men - Amos Saraber 39 min 18 sec; Masters 50+ Women - Wendy Flanagan 56 min 22 sec.