Adventure: Little Rocky Creek - Axe grinding site

Discover an historic site, used by the First Nations people for many generations to make tools.

Suitability

A short 200m easy distance for all walkers and a great, cultural history adventure for families. 

Highlights

This First Nations stone grinding site, located in Landsborough, highlights the ingenuity of the Gubbi Gubbi people in creating the tools they needed to live and hunt.

Before you view this magical space, take time to the read the information board and understand the significant cultural importance of the area.

From here, follow the path along a short gravel track and section of stairs to a wooden viewing platform. Here you will be able to view the grooves that are well defined and worn to the shape of the stone axes.

The sandstone and water flow made for a perfect place for grinding tools such as axe heads, spearheads and cutting stones, with the harder stone used for the implement being brought in from other Glasshouse Mountain locations. As you explore this pretty little creek, with multiple small waterfalls, have a look around – you are likely to see more grooves and evidence of past life.

When walking through the forest, keep an eye out for the nesting boxes in the trees for birds and the goannas roaming about.

Afterwards

There is another First Nations cultural site not far away - Beerwah State Forest Bora Ring. An ancient meeting site used for gatherings, dancing and ceremonies.

While there, the Mount Beerwah Picnic Area provides a great view of the local area and provides more information about local First Nations heritage.

Meanwhile, the nearby Rocky Creek Scout Campsite is open to the public and a good base to stay while discovering the Glasshouse Mountains area.

How to get there

On Steve Irwin Way, turn off into Landsborough (Railway Street, Maleny St) and at the roundabout turn left into Gympie Street South. Approximately 1.5 km down this road (heading south) it turns into Old Gympie Road. There you will see a brown sign indicating the aboriginal site 100 metres ahead, just around the corner. Park the car here. If you miss the entry to the small car park, you can park in front of the Rocky Creek Scout campsite that is just beyond. It is only a short walk to the creek.

Trail

For more than 250 walking, running, paddling, cycling, mountain biking and horse-riding trails on the Sunshine Coast #chooseyournextadventure with Adventure Sunshine Coast https://adventure.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/

N.B - For those who have a four-legged friend they wish to take on their adventures – be sure to check out council’s handy interactive off leash dog map to help identify the current dog off-leash, on-leash and prohibited areas when you’re out and about across the Sunshine Coast local government region (i.e. council managed public land).