Gowrie creek cultural heritage

The Gowrie Creek waterway is an important element in the history of the city’s natural and cultural environment.  In view of the importance of the waterway to Toowoomba, Council adopted the Gowrie Creek Management Strategy in 1998.

Council accepts responsibility for managing this valuable natural asset, including flood mitigation and control; planning for the development and beautification of its open spaces; and water quality.

A requirement of these future works is to identify and assess sites and places of cultural heritage significance to the community, including its Traditional Custodians.

A study was commissioned to collate and analyse relevant historical, environmental, archaeological, ethnographic and architectural/engineering data relating to cultural heritage issues in the waterway.

A Cultural Heritage Advisory Group was established and worked with Council. Members of this group included representatives of the Traditional Custodian families with interests in the Toowoomba area, local historical associations, government representatives, and persons with particular interests in heritage issues.

The draft report was provided to the Group for their input and discussion. The report only moved to presentation to Toowoomba City Council once all agreed that its contents met the project brief appropriately, and provided information on all known cultural heritage values in the Gowrie Creek waterways.