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Kangaroo Point Natural History Trail

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Learn about pioneering scientists while enjoying this trail along the river in one of Brisbane’s oldest suburbs.

About the Kangaroo Point Natural History Trail

Kangaroo Point is one of Brisbane's oldest suburbs, and 2 of its parks were once the home and workplace of some of Queensland's pioneering scientists and researchers. 

In recognition of their contribution, this trail features a series of interpretive and botanical signs about the pioneers, including:

  • Cyril Tenison White 
  • Frederick Manson Bailey
  • Harry Oakman
  • James Warner
  • Silvester Diggles
  • Oscar Werner Tiegs.

The trail also commemorates Council's former superintendent of parks, Harry Oakman, by highlighting the remnants of his distinctive subtropical plants with botanical signage.

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Kangaroo Point Natural History Trail map

Follow the map to find the 6 botanical signs along the trail.

Points of interest

James Warner Park, Annie Street, Kangaroo Point

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About this stop
James Warner was one of the first surveyors of Brisbane, responsible for mapping the coastline, townships and rural selections. He is reputed to have constructed the first house in Kangaroo Point in 1844, and built up a successful business as a surveyor and real estate agent.

C.T. White Park, MacDonald Street, Kangaroo Point

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About this stop
Learn about Harry Oakman, Brisbane City Council's Superintendent of Parks from 1946 to 1962. His passion for lush tropical foliage and flowering plants developed into the distinctive subtropical style of many Brisbane parks and streetscapes. Oakman's illustrated horticultural books on tropical and subtropical gardening have inspired many Queensland gardeners.

James Warner Park, Kangaroo Point

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About this stop
This sign provides information about Oscar Tiegs. Born at Kangaroo Point on 12 March 1897, Oscar Tiegs was a world-class entomologist and zoologist. He transformed an early fascination with insects into an outstanding career in zoology. Tiegs early collection of named beetles became part of the Queensland Museum collection and he was later instrumental in establishing university museum collections for further research.

C.T. White Park, Hamilton Street, Kangaroo Point

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This sign provides information about Silvester Diggles. He was a notable naturalist, artist and musician of 19th century Brisbane. He helped establish the colony's first scientific institution, the Queensland Philosophical Society (1859) and published The Ornithology of Australia in 21 parts between 1865 and 1870. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Brisbane Philharmonic Society in 1861.

C.T. White Park, Hamilton Street, Kangaroo Point

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About this stop
This sign provides information about Frederick Manson Bailey. He was the Colonial Botanist of Queensland from 1881 to 1915. His encyclopedic knowledge of plants resulted in a long list of published works on Queensland flora, contributing greatly to the colony's fledging agricultural and pastoral industries. Bailey died at Kangaroo Point on 25 June 1915.

C.T. White Park, Scott Street, Kangaroo Point

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About this stop
This sign provides information about Cyril Tenison White. He was a Queensland Government Botanist from 1917 until his death in 1950. Born on 17 August 1890, he became an expert on identifying plants by sight. He drew almost one thousand illustrations for the Comprehensive Catalogue of Queensland Plants by his maternal grandfather, Colonial Botanist, Frederick Manson Bailey.