Canungra, Queensland
Encyclopedia
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
and Brisbane
. Canungra, also called the "Valley of the Owls", is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland, 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) west of the Gold Coast and 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) south of Brisbane. At the 2006 census
, Canungra had a population of 725.
One of the origin of the town's name comes from the Aboriginal word for small owls, "Caningera". It is widely believed that the most notable owl found in the area is the Southern Boobook
Owl, which appears in various logos & symbols associated with Canungra. The Canungra News gives daily updates about the happenings around the township. In 2005 the local Post Office released a special limited-release frank featuring Canungra & the Boobook Owl.
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. Following this era came beef cattle and dairying.
Today Canungra's population of approximately 2500 people according to Scenic Rim Region, offers eateries, wineries, accommodation and shops to its visitors. The historic Lahey's Tramway 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.
Residents and business in Canungra get their water supply from Canungra Creek, a tributary
of Albert River. The slopes around Canungra are steep and forest
ed with some cleared farm
lands and rural home
s in the flatter valley
areas.
establishment called the Kokoda Barracks
within the Canungra Military Area. It was established during World War II
and revived in 1954 to train personnel for the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) commitment in Malaya and on 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.
's song "A Walk in the Light Green"
Its also the shorter less crowded highway route from the Gold Coast to Victoria state and Melbourne City.
The township is also a meeting place for motor bike club rides, hanggliders, paragliders, birdwatchers and bushwalkers who visit the area annually to take advantage of what the Canungra Valley has to offer.
South East Queensland
South East Queensland is a region of the state of Queensland in Australia, which contains approximately two-thirds of the state population...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its economy depends on tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
, being a popular destination for short drives from the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
and Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. Canungra, also called the "Valley of the Owls", is situated in the Gold Coast Hinterland, 35 kilometres (21.7 mi) west of the Gold Coast and 90 kilometres (55.9 mi) south of Brisbane. At the 2006 census
Census in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
, Canungra had a population of 725.
One of the origin of the town's name comes from the Aboriginal word for small owls, "Caningera". It is widely believed that the most notable owl found in the area is the Southern Boobook
Southern Boobook
The Southern Boobook , also called the Mopoke, Morepork, Ruru or Tasmanian Spotted Owl, is a small brown owl found throughout New Zealand, Tasmania, across most of mainland Australia and in Timor, southern New Guinea and nearby islands.The bird has almost 20 alternative common names, most of which...
Owl, which appears in various logos & symbols associated with Canungra. The Canungra News gives daily updates about the happenings around the township. In 2005 the local Post Office released a special limited-release frank featuring Canungra & the Boobook Owl.
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. Following this era came beef cattle and dairying.
Today Canungra's population of approximately 2500 people according to Scenic Rim Region, offers eateries, wineries, accommodation and shops to its visitors. The historic Lahey's Tramway 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.
Residents and business in Canungra get their water supply from Canungra Creek, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of Albert River. The slopes around Canungra are steep and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed with some cleared farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
lands and rural home
Home
A home is a place of residence or refuge. When it refers to a building, it is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either...
s in the flatter valley
Valley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
areas.
Military base
Canungra is the location of a large militaryMilitary
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
establishment called the Kokoda Barracks
Kokoda Barracks
Kokoda Barracks is an Australian Army base located in Queensland at Canungra.The Australian Army Intelligence Corps has training facilities known as the Defence Intelligence Training Centre and the Australian Army Land Warfare Centre, Canungra located here....
within the Canungra Military Area. It was established during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and revived in 1954 to train personnel for the South East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO) commitment in Malaya and on through to the end of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. 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 RedgumRedgum
Redgum were an Australian folk and political music group formed in Adelaide in 1975 by singer-songwriter John Schumann, Michael Atkinson on guitars/vocals and Verity Truman on flute/vocals; they were soon joined by Chris Timms on violin. All four had been students at Flinders University and...
's song "A Walk in the Light Green"
Tourism
Canungra is nestled in the middle of the 3 major tourist destination, and is the gateway to the Gold Coast Hinterland.[Tamborine National Park|Mount Tamborine] The Lamington National park, Queensland|Green Mountains]] and [Binna Burra].Its also the shorter less crowded highway route from the Gold Coast to Victoria state and Melbourne City.
The township is also a meeting place for motor bike club rides, hanggliders, paragliders, birdwatchers and bushwalkers who visit the area annually to take advantage of what the Canungra Valley has to offer.