Mount Beerwah

Mount Beerwah
Mount Beerwah viewed from Mary Cairncross Reserve
Elevation	556 m (1,824 ft)
Location
Location	Queensland, Australia
Range	Glass House Mountains
Geology
Type	Volcanic
Age of rock	26 million years
Climbing
First ascent	Andrew Petrie and John Petrie

Mount Beerwah is the highest of the ten volcanic plugs in the Glass House Mountains range, 22 km north of Caboolture in South East Queensland, Australia. It was formed 26 million years ago during the tertiary period.

Mount Beerwah has two peaks, the taller of which is 556 metres high. It is one of the most visually prominent mountains in south-east Queensland. The first white person to ascend the peak was Andrew Petrie with his son John Petrie.^[1] Its name comes from the Dungidau language words "birra, or "sky," and "wandum," "climbing up."

In the mythology of the region, Mount Beerwah was the mother of all the other mountains in the region except Mount Tibrogargan, the father. Local aboriginals disliked climbing the mountains for reasons unknown.^[1]

The mountain is basically a column of trachyte. One side features a dramatic, inward leaning cliff face known as the Organ Pipes.^[1] At its base is a number of small caves.

Climbing

The unique overhanging rock face of Mount Beerwah

It is legal to climb Mount Beerwah and Mount Tibrogargan; the views from the summit are rewarding. There is a 2.6 km trail up from a state government maintained parking lot.^[2] The start of the trail is a "level 5 difficulty" walk^[3] that turns into a climb that can be done without equipment. Even experienced hikers should not attempt this trail unless they have at least three hours of daylight and there is no chance of rain. Depending on fitness, climbers should plan on taking two to three litres of water per person.

Mount Beerwah has been closed to climbing for a number of years. The damage from a rock fall is still evident and there has been no attempt to fix handrails and re-open the track. Fines can be issued if people access areas that are closed to the public.^[3]

See also

Queensland portal

• List of mountains in Australia
• List of volcanoes in Australia

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Horton, Helen (1988). Brisbane's Back Door: The story of the D'Aguilar Range. Bowen Hills, Queensland: Boolarong Publications. pp. 142—144. ISBN 086439036 X. 
2. ^ "Mount Beerwah Track". queenslandholidays.com.au. Tourism Queensland. http://www.queenslandholidays.com.au/things-to-see-and-do/mount-beerwah-track/index.cfm. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} "About Beerburrum, Beerwah". Department of Environment and Resource Management. 21 October 2009. http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/beerburrum-beerwah/about.html. Retrieved 5 May 2011. 

External links

Media related to Mount Beerwah at Wikimedia Commons

• Photos of Mount Beerwah, Glass House Mountains

Coordinates: 26°54′S 152°53′E / 26.9°S 152.883°E / -26.9; 152.883