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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. Two of its parks were once home and workplace to pioneering Queensland 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 commemorates Council’s former parks superintendent, Harry Oakman. It highlights remnants of his distinctive subtropical plants with botanical signage.

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 believed to have built Kangaroo Point’s first house in 1844. He later ran a successful surveying and real estate business.

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 love for tropical foliage and flowering plants shaped Brisbane’s distinctive subtropical style in 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 beetle collection became part of the Queensland Museum. He later helped establish university museum collections for 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 Queensland’s first scientific institution, the Philosophical Society, in 1859. He 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 vast plant knowledge produced many published works on Queensland flora. These contributions supported the colony’s early 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 1,000 illustrations for the Comprehensive Catalogue of Queensland Plants by his grandfather Frederick Manson Bailey.