Legend

Made by Serif

It seems that Tibrogargan, the father, and Beerwah, the mother, had many children - Coonowrin (the eldest), Beerburrum, the Tunbubudla twins, Coochin, Ngungun, Tibberoowuccum, Miketeebumulgrai and Elimbah. According to the story there was also Round who was fat and small, and Wild Horse who was always straying away to paddle in the sea.

One day, when Tibrogargan was gazing out to sea he noticed a great rising of the water. Hurrying off to gather his younger children in order to flee to the safety of the mountains to the westward, he called out to Coonowrin to help his mother, who by the way, was again with child. Looking back to see how Coonowrin was assisting Beerwah, Tibrorgargan was greatly angered to see him running off alone. He pursued Coonowrin and, raising his club, struck the latter such a mighty blow that it dislocated Coonowrin's neck, and he has never been able to straighten it since.

When the floods had subsided and the family had returned to the plains, the other children teased Coonowrin about his crooked neck. Feeling ashamed, Coonowrin went to Tibrogargan and asked for forgiveness, but filled with shame at his son's cowardice, Tibrogargan could do nothing but weep copious tears, which, trickling along the ground, formed a stream which flowed into the sea.

Then Coonowrin went to his brothers and sisters, but they also wept at the shame of their brother's cowardice. The lamentations of Coonowrin's parents and his brothers and sisters at his disgrace explain the presence today of the numerous small streams of the area.

Tibrogargan then called Coonowrin, asking him why he had deserted Beerwah; at which Coonowrin replied that as Beerwah was the biggest of them all she should be able to take care of herself. He did not know that Beerwah was again pregnant, which was the reason for her great size. Then Tibrogargan turned his back on Coonowrin and vowed that he would never look at him again.

Even today, Tibrogargan gazes far out to sea and never looks around at Coonowrin, who hangs his head and cries, his tears running off to the sea. His mother Beerwah, is still heavy with child as it takes a long, long time to give birth to a mountain.

All through the area can be found evidence of aboriginal culture. Some ridgetops in the area produce axe and spear heads; there are midden heaps along the Moreton Bay coast; and axe grinding grooves, the best example of which is those in the creek bed near the Rocky Creek Scout Camp at Landsborough. The D'Aguilar Highway follows, for the most part, the route taken by the people to travel to the Bunya Mountains for the gatherings held every three years.