Alton downs - Around the place

Mt. Zion was one of the small landmarks of the area. Unfortunately the area has been significantly quarried and this landmark which was once riddled with caves and provided exploring territory for the locals is now hardly recognisable in the landscape. It is located on the corner of Mackenzie and Sheldrake Roads.

During the intense heat of summer, the locals trained Bouganvillea over trellises and used these as outside retreats from the heat. Temperatures in the shade were significantly cooler than in the house or outside.

These aerial views provide a good understanding of the physical nature of this area called the DOWNS. Today, much of the land which was marked with light schlerophyl forests suffers from overgrazing and deneuded paddocks. Also much of the larger divisions have been subdivided into smaller blocks for primarily rural living.

Floods in 1954 saw Alton Downs residents taking a punt down river to Lion Creek to collect fresh food. Since this flood the river's banks have become heavily wooded with Coolibahs and prevented this access in 1991.

One of the valuable landmarks to the area are the lagoons that form part of an district's watering system within the area. They are a integral part of the district's eco system. Waterlillies in blue, pink and yellow are prevalent as well as turtles.Drovers used to camp and water stock at the lagoons before being driven into town to the sale yards. Most of these lagoons have disappeared from the landscape due to the concurrent dry seasons. Many birds can be found watering and nesting. The reserve at Long Island is a protected habitat for the Pygmy Magpie Geese.

Traditionally named Toonooba, the Fitzroy River runs through the heartland of the Darumbal Tribe, which has lived in the area for more than 19,000 years. The river and lagoons have given up fish, turtles, eel and mussels. Long Island was pronounced a Reserve for Public Purposes in 1869 and leased for stock grazing. Residents of Alton Downs used to gather at the Angle for picnics. Others would take their Dray and collect river sand for building construction. The Reserve is now an Environmental Reserve with the aim to restore the area to a self sustaining eco system. The River serves as the northern border of this area.

There is very little evidence of the original architecture of thedistrict. Successive floods have washed away many of the dwellings. Floods have been recorded in 1859, 1864, 1875, 1890, 1896, 1918, 1928, 1940, 1954, 1991. While most were built from tin and timber on the lower reaches of the flood plains, they were not built high on stumps like many other Queenslander homes as the shifting black soils prevented this. Even today as you drive through the district look at the tank stands and the high set houses and you will be amazed at the tenous angle of the supporting stumps. The Tower of Pisa pales into insignificance. Extensive stock losses were experienced at flood times.

The story is that Drought put an end to the growing of cotton in the district as it needed a lot of water. In 1902 only 15" rain fell and goats were the only surviving animals - hence goat meat and milk were used. Water was rationed, even well water. A severe mouse plague accompanied this drought. In the 1940's drought many animals were lost. Farmers who had bottle trees would saw them up and feed them through chaff cutters for feed for their animals. Branches off trees were special and animals would horn each other just to get to the leaves. Irene Tyrrell remembers the 1940's drought . They had 130 head and lost all except 8. Even the horse she learnt to ride on at 5 years died as a result of the drought.