By Beaudesert Historical Museum
On July 24, 1828, Logan, Cunningham and Colonial Botanist Charles Fraser set out from Brisbane Town to solve the Mt Warning mystery.
On August 3, the ascent of Mt Barney East Peak was attempted, via Logan’s Ridge.
Cunningham bailed first due to the ‘alarming steepness’, then Fraser, but Logan continued to the summit, from where the real ‘Mt Warning was clearly visible’.
At this time, this was the highest ascent of a peak by a European in Australia.
Logan and Fraser returned to Moreton Bay, while Cunningham proceeded to Limestone [Ipswich], where he equipped a smaller expedition, including pack oxen, and then set out to find a route through the Great Dividing Range.
This he achieved on August 25, following the route of the present-day highway that bears his name.
He named Mt Mitchell on the south head and Mt Cordeaux on the north.
He then climbed the northern summit of Mt Mitchell to view his discovery of the previous year.
From 1842, the first flocks and herds of sheep and cattle were driven in Cunningham’s footsteps, including William Humphries and the Lawless brothers, who took up Mundoolun and Nindooinbah Stations.
