Glass House Mountains National Park and Beerburrum Forest Reserve 1

The Glass House Mountains are landmarks in south east Queensland. They are visible from the Gateway Bridge to those travelling north from Brisbane, and from Moreton Bay, from where they were first mapped and named by Captain James Cook on 17 May 1770. The mountains reminded Cook of the kilns of the glasshouses of his native Yorkshire. Estimated to be more than 20 million years old, these volcanic plugs include Mount Beerwah, Coonowrin, Ngungun and Tibrogargan. They are situated on the old Bruce Highway between the towns of Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains. Matthew Flinders was one of the explorers to visit here in July 1799 followed by; John Oxley in 1923; Alan Cunningham in 1829; Andrew and John Petrie in 1848 and Dr Ludwig Leichhardt in 1843 and 1844. The Glass House Mountains provide ecosystems for plants supporting 26 endangered plant species as well as a range of native fauna. The area was first gazetted a National Park in 1954 and comprised a number of separate parks surrounding the main peaks; amalgamated in 1994. The mountains have inspired artists such as Conrad Martens; writers such as Judith Wright and musicians Robert Davidson and John Gilfedder.