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The traditional custodians of Lake Parramatta Reserve are peoples of the Burramatagal clan of the Dharug language group. Some relics of Aboriginal occupation exist on site in the form of remnant shelters, hand-stencils, flaking scars and midden deposits. Today we welcome you to the reserve and ask that you acknowledge indigenous cultural values, particularly having respect for Earth and all its creatures.

Completed in 1856, the Lake Parramatta reservoir was the first large dam built in Australia. It was made of sandstone blocks quarried onsite as seen today from the Dam Wall Lookout.

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"A scarred tree or scar tree, also known as a canoe tree and shield tree, is a tree which has had bark removed by Aboriginal Australians for the creation of bark canoes, shelters, weapons such as shields, tools, traps, containers (such as coolamons), or other artefacts. Carved trees may also be created as a form of artistic and spiritual expression by some Aboriginal peoples, to mark sites of significance such as burial sites."

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"Until 1970, between 10% and 30% of all Aboriginal children - up to 100,000 in total - were taken forcibly or under duress from their families by governments, churches, police or welfare officers. Most were under 5 years old. They are known as the 'Stolen Generations'."

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While I walked along, I couldn't help trying to conjure the image of Charles Darwin walking along here back in 1836. I wondered what he had thought about this beautiful area. 

I had recently read first the first two books in the Australian History series (Girt and True Girt) by David Hunt which had talked about Charles Darwin hating Australia. "Farewell Australia, I leave … without sorrow or regret." He wrote in his diary.

But as I walked this lush walk, named for the famous naturalist, I thought that surely, he must have enjoyed his stroll along this very area.

Then again, I thought, who's to know what this site looked like 188 years ago. It could have simply been overgrown and look nothing like the lush walk was now, with it's wide-open trails.

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"I stopped in the middle of the little creek, admiring the running water as I watched it flow, looking in both directions. I felt the way I always feel around running water. A weird surreal spiritual connection. A comfort and peace. I wondered where it stemmed from. 

Was it my childhood camping holidays every year down in Coolendel and swimming in the rapids? I couldn't give you a reason, maybe there was some sort of inherited instinct, but then, why do we feel the way we do about anything?

The way people view the beach as their church. They love the sand, the waves, the salt water and the sound of gulls. That was how I felt around creeks, rivers, streams and running water."

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"Looking over the Kedumba River to Mt. Solitary.

Mum-mi-ee is the Gundungarra Aboriginal name for this feature.

The plateau that forms the Blue Mountains has been deeply cut by streams and rivers. The vertical cliffs are made of sand deposited here during the Triassic age (about 250 million years ago). Directly below the cliffs are layers from the Permian age, which include coal deposits formed from about 250 million years ago. Exposed in the depths of the valley are rocks from the Devonian age (about 400 millions years ago). The Blue Mountains is a geologically stable environment, which has allowed the development of unique habitats and micro-climates, home to many plants and animals found nowhere else in the world."

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"Whibayganba

Whibayganba is a place of cultural significance within the local landscape of Mulubinba.

Whibayganba was an island. Its beginnings and traditions a complex cultural narrative. Stories originating from a past where ancestral beings created Country, and shaped the law and relations between all living things. Their memories are retained, etched, and spoken of in Country, a legacy that links the Dreamtime with the present.

Local lore tells of a great kangaroo concealed in the island who would thump his tail causing earthquakes.

The island was originally a closed off site, surrounded by rocks and turbulent waters. The strong gale force of the winds that batter the island enabled this place to be a suitable refuge to confine a giant kangaroo. The kangaroo remained hidden in Whibayganba.

In 1855 the top of the island was lopped off by the English, and in 1846 they had completed the construction of a breakwater that was started in 1818. The breakwater attached the island to the mainland creating open access to Whibayganba, access that had been denied for thousands of years.

The alterations are against Aboriginal principles of respecting country, maintaining balance and equilibrium and ensuring protections and conservation of sacred places."

'That's a sad story.' I thought, surely one of many very familiar ones around the country.

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"Fuck!" I screamed. "FUCK!" At the top of my lungs, pure psychopathic rage, had anyone seen or heard me they would have thought I was insane.

You may think this is a bit of an overreaction, given the day I was having. But this wasn't just about the day. It wasn't about the pie, or the traffic, or the closed walk, or my phone screen. These were today's issues. But this was a build-up. Pent up frustration, anger, anxiety and resentment.

This was years in the making. From the covid lockdowns, to my fractured ankle, to my cancer diagnosis and treatment (all during the pandemic), to returning back to work, which had progressively gotten worse, with no career progression only more work and responsibility with no more pay, with a cost-of-living crisis and issues with my own home life. I had just been thinking to myself lately, what exactly did I beat cancer for? To just be constantly kicked and knocked down? To just continually struggle with only the rare opportunity to travel and adventure. It was the build-up of all these frustrations that caused me to scream alone in my car like a maniac.

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"Bomaderry Creek cuts through sandstone to form a spectacular gorge with cliffs and overhangs. The vegetation ranges from lush rainforest in the gullies to dry, open eucalypt forests on cliff tops. The sandstone flora is particularly colourful in spring.

The walks through the park include steps and creek crossings and there are unfenced cliffs.

Please supervise children at all times.

Dogs are allowed in regional parks but must be kept under control and on leashes at all times."

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"Why is the Nepalese Peace Pagoda at South Bank Parklands?

The Nepalese Peace Pagoda was originally commissioned and installed at South Bank for Expo 88. Following its success, it became a coveted item, with several international bidders vying to keep it. It remains here today thanks to a generous donation from philanthropists Frank and Myra Pitt, in addition to contributions from Brisbane locals, the Australian Government and Brisbane City Council."

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"I stopped to admire a scribbly gum tree to my left, always left in awe of them and their scribble patterns. I realised that I could travel the world, I could even move overseas. But the sights, sounds, and smells of Australia would always remain with me. Growing up camping, bushwalking in, hearing its sounds, it had become a part of my soul."

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"Daniel Solander

Cape Solander is named after Swedish botanist Daniel Solander (1733-1782), who accompanied naturalist and botanist Joseph Banks on HMB Endeavour from 1768-1771.

A Gifted Student

Solander studied under famous botanist, Carl Linnaeus, at Sweden's Uppsala University. Before Solander completed his studies, Linnaeus sent him to London as his representative to work at the British Museum cataloguing the natural history collections, and to promote the Linnaean classification system. This system became the internation standard for the classification of all species and is still used today.

Unfinished Business

In 1768, Joseph Banks invited Solander to join in the scientific staff on HMB Endeavour on its voyage to the South Pacific. Together, Banks and Solander collected approximately 30,000 specimens including around 1,300 species new to Western science. The number of species they collected demonstrated the need for a classification system that could cope with Earth's biodiversity.

On his return to England, Solander became Joseph Bank's secretary and librarian and went on numerous collecting expeditions including to the Isle of Wight, the western highlands of Scotland, Iceland and Wales. He was also appointed keeper of natural history at the British Museum.

Solander died of a stroke in 1782 aged only 49, leaving much of his work incomplete, unpublished or waiting on contributions from others.

A Significant Legacy

Solander made important contributions to botany through his discoveries and his meticulous categorising of the specimens he and Banks collected around the world.

As early proponents of Linnaeus's systematic biology, Bank's and Solander's work here led to Kamay Botany Bay National Park being nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Area. The national park is important both culturally and scientifically in 'The Rise of Systematic Biology' - the study of biological diversity and its origin.

This includes a taxonomic classification system for categorising organisms into related groups."

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'Strickland Falls Track

1.7km loop, 40 minutes return

Medium grade, some steep sections and steps

This track was proudly completed by the "Friends of Strickland" in 2003.

Follow the signs from Banksia Picnic Area to experience spectacular cliffs, mossy rocks, ferns pals, wildflowers, tall eucalypts and lush rainforest.

The Gymea Lily is a feature of the walk.'

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"Girrakool -place of waters

Brisbane Water National Park was originally established in 1959 when an area of 6,000 hectares was dedicated for public recreation, the park is now more than 12,000ha in size.

Girrakool picnic area was established soon after the appointment of the first ranger, Mr Jack Higgs, in 1961.

The establishment of a picnic area and development of walking trails at Girrakool was carefully planned to provide access to the beautiful waterfalls and abundant native flora. Girrakool was officially opened on 11 September 1965.

This beautiful reserve takes its name from nearby Brisbane Water which can be seen from a number of places within the park. The park is a combination of rugged bushland, beautiful wildflowers and spectacular waterfalls and creeks.

Aboriginal people have used the area for centuries and there are Aboriginal engravings on many of the sandstone outcrops.

The importance of the area for Aboriginal people is reflected in the two Aboriginal places in the park, Bulgandry Art Site Aboriginal Place and Kariong Sacred Land Aboriginal Place."

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"People and the Lakes

The Dharawal and Gundungurra have lived around Thirlmere lakes for many thousands of years, leaving grinding grooves, rock engravings, artwork, and other evidence of occupation.

The local Aboriginal people were some of the first to feel the impact of European settlement, suffering from new diseases, violence and occupation of their lands. 

They called the area Couridjah, which is believed to mean honey and refer to the nectar of the abundant banksia flowers.

Europeans officially found the lakes in 1798, and they have been popular with visitors since at least the 1860's.

In 1867 a pumphouse, which still stand beside Lake Couridjah, was built to supply water to steam engines plying the new southern railway.

Today the park is a significant conservation reserve ideal for quiet public enjoyment."

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Steventure is my Hiking and Travel blog also functioning as a semi journal, told with my own style of self deprecation and geeky fandom attitude.

My idea for the logo was based on photos of myself on hiking adventures, but also with a major Legend of Zelda influence from the original video games artwork with Link looking at Dueling Peaks (which inspired an image still in Breath of the Wild). Showing my friend Stuart these images he set out to create the logo for me.