Welcome to the about page

this information was complied from my own personal research

First off, a big thanks to Time alias The Grim Reaper Yes it was indeed time, about 20+ million years of it in fact that it took to wear down the land above and around this large volcanic intrusion thus exposing it to the surrounding landscape as the giant bolder we see today.

The mountain is basically a large lump of rhyolite, approximately 1000m long, 800m wide and rises 200m above the local landscape. This local mountainous feature relates to the same geological period that formed the nearby Glasshouse Mountains to the south. In geological terms we are talking about the Tertiary Period, which was approximately 25 millions years ago. The Glasshouses however are more like examples of the volcanic plug, whereas this particular lump of solidified igneous rock never broke through to atmosphere or became an active volcano.

The classic dome top or tortoise shell shape is synonymous with the main eroding element, which in this case is water, as rainfall, ie. as the water flows from the top and downwards it accelerates and the cutting action increases, as evidenced by the sloping top section. The sides of the mountain become literal waterfalls in heavy rain and the eroding action of the water then becomes completely vertical, hence those shear cliff faces on some sides. Just as water can cut through the metal seat of a leaky household tap, this rock has been slowly shaped by water and wind over hundreds of thousands of years.

The name Coolum is an aboriginal one. Modern archeology reveals that human inhabitants lived on this island (Australia) as far back as 50 thousand years ago (ref. Mungo Lakes NSW) and up until the first european settlers arrived locally some 150 years ago, this area was inhabited by aborigines. The tribe that lived around or near this mountain were known as the Undambi tribes people. They were not alone either as there were other tribes to the North, South and West of here. The sad reality of course is, that in less than 100 years there are none of these people left alive and there is no land held under native title. To be completely blunt we may as well say they were "completely disposessed and totally wiped out" either directly or indirectly by the onset of european settlement.

The dreamtime legends of those former indigenous inhabitants say that Coolum was a young warrior who fought with another warrior called Ninderry, over the favours of a beautiful young maiden by the name of Maroochy and that Coolum was beheaded in the ensuing battle. The theme was one of romantic passion and like many dreamtime legends they became embedded in the physical features of their environment.

A more detailed history of the local shires can be discovered in the book titled Making Maroochy, a history of the land the people and the shire ISBN 0646044699 by noted Queensland historian Dr. Helen Gregory ..see 2005 QLD Premier's Literary Awards

Another good book about more recent local settlement history is titled An Island Surrounded by Land ISBN 0958911010 by Frances & John Windolf

If anyone has any interesting information to share on the history of the area, I would be pleased to talk with you.

Aerial view compliments of Google Maps
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