Canungra, Queensland

Infobox Australian Place | type = town
name = Canungra
state = Queensland


caption =
lga = Scenic Rim Regional Council
postcode = 4275
est =
pop = 1000
elevation=
maxtemp =
mintemp =
rainfall =
stategov = Beaudesert
fedgov = Forde
dist1 =
dir1 =
location1=

Location map|Queensland|label=Canungra|position=left
lat_deg=-28|lat_min=-02|lat_sec=00|lon_deg=153|lon_min=10|lon_sec=00
caption=Location in Queensland

Canungra is a small picturesque rural township in South East Queensland, Australia. Its economy depends on tourism, being a popular destination for short drives from the Gold Coast & Brisbane. Canungra, also called the "Valley of the Owls", is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland, 35km west of the Gold Coast and 90km south of Brisbane. The origin of the town's name comes from the Aboriginal word for small owls, "Caningera".cite book |title=Stories of the Southside |last=Roberts |first=Beryl |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1991 |publisher=Aussie Books |location=Archerfield, Queensland |isbn=094733601X |pages=57 ]

Canungra owes its existence to the timber industry and once boasted one of one of the largest stands of timber in the colony. By the 1940s most of the timber had been cut and sawmills were closing. cite book |title=Heritage Trails of the Great South East |last=Queensland Environmental Protection Agency |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher=State of Queensland |location= |isbn=0-7345-1008-X |pages=16 ] Following this era came beef cattle and dairying.

Today Canungra's population of 1000 people offers eateries, wineries, accommodation and shops to its visitors. The historic Lahey's Tramway ["The Canungra and Pine Creek Logging Tramway" Burke, David Australia Railway Historical Society Bulletin, May/June, 1950,pp8-10/24-25] Tunnel is the only existence of the past sawmilling activities in the area.

From 2 July, 1915 until 1 July, 1955 Queensland Railways connected Canungra with the Beaudesert Line at Logan Village ["The Canungra Branch" Milne, Rod Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, January, 1993 pp12-19] .

Residents and business in Canungra get their water supply from Canungra Creek, a tributary of Albert River. The slopes around Canungra are steep and forested with some cleared farmlands and rural homes in the flatter valley areas.

Military base

Canungra is the location of a large military establishment called the Kokoda Barracks within the Canungra Military Area. It was established during World War II and revived during the 1960s through to the end of the Vietnam War. ] The base provides a substantial permanent resident population as well as an ever-changing transient population due to the extensive ongoing training courses on offer at the base.

Cultural references

Canungra is referenced as one of the bases used for training in the Vietnam war in Redgum's song "A Walk in the Light Green"

Tourism

Canungra is nestled in the middle of the 3 major tourist destination, Mount Tamborine, O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat in the Green Mountains, and Binna Burra.

The main access road to the O'Reilly's section of Lamington National Park is via Canungra. The township is also a meeting place for hanggliders, paragliders, birdwatchers and bushwalkers who visit the area annually to take advantage of what the Canungra Valley has to offer.

Notable former residents

*Robert Raymond

References