A sense of order will be restored to the upper reaches of Christmas Creek when the names of three creek crossings are put back in their rightful places.
The Buchanan family has welcomed Scenic Rim Regional Council plans to fix the names of the final three crossings on Christmas Creek Road, which were mistakenly put back in the wrong place after they were washed away in floodwaters.
In 1999 the crossings were named after three generations of the family – Roy Buchanan, his father John Buchanan and his father’s father JT Buchanan – in that order as you head away from Beaudesert.
The former Beaudesert Shire Council, under then Mayor Joy Drescher, named the crossings after the Buchanans in response to a request from Roy’s wife, Dinah Buchanan.
In a letter on 3 November 1998, Dinah wrote of the family’s significant contributions to the area, pointing out that the fifth generation of Buchanans still resided at Lamington.
“The family of the late John Thomas Buchanan of whom we are direct descendants owned most of the land called “Lamington Glen” which started at the old, locked gate which was situated at the top end of Christmas Creek and stretched back to border onto the National Park,” she wrote.
“John Thomas and his sons cleared a track on top of the Lamington Plateau 12ft wide for very little money. He also worked with Romeo Lahey and Lord Lamington to have the Plateau listed as part of the National Park.
“The top end of Christmas Creek is a beautiful place, which brings many sightseers to the area and because of our forefathers opening this area up, making it more accessible for everyone.”
Division Three Councillor Virginia West welcomed the move.
“We are pleased to finally be able to rectify the incorrect names of the crossings and to honour the wishes of the Buchanan family,” she said.
Dinah’s son Paul Buchanan applauded news the creek crossing matter would be rectified.
“It’s good for the history and good for the family, for everyone to know things are going back to where they should be,” he said.
“I mean it’s only something simple – the floods – that put things out of order in the first place.”
