Ithaca Creek
Encyclopedia
Ithaca Creek is a waterway in the Enoggera Creek catchment, in the western suburbs of Brisbane
, Queensland
, Australia. It arises in in the Taylor Range at the Mount Coot-tha forest with two streams, one arising at J C Slaughter Falls
, the other and stronger source being Simpson Falls
, the western branch.
Ithaca Creek runs through the suburbs of Bardon
, Ashgrove
and Red Hill
, where it joins Enoggera Creek
27.4452°N 153.0022°W. Ithaca Intact, a creek restoration project by Save Our Waterways Now
went into its third year mid 2010, backed by Queensland parliamentarians Kate Jones
, Member for Ashgrove and then Minister for the Environment, Andrew Fraser
, Member for Mount Coot-tha and Queensland Treasurer, as well as local government councillors Geraldine Knapp and David Hinchliffe.
, Ithaca Creek was named after the birthplace of Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen
, wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, British colonial administrator, the 1st Governor of Queensland
(in office 1859 - 1868). This appears to be in error as, according to the Australian Dictionary of Biography
Diamantina was borne on Zante, another of the Ionian Islands
. The Ionian Islands, now part of Greece
, was a British protectorate at the time and likely referred to collectively rather than individually. Ithaca
in Greece has one of the world's largest natural harbours and is famous in legend as Homer
's Ithaca, the home of Ulysses
, whose delayed return to the island is one of the plot elements of the Odyssey
. James Joyce
's novel Ulysses
sets the story of the wandering Ulysses
on one day in Dublin in the early 20th century.
Ithaca Creek was briefly considered as a potential main water supply for Brisbane
but overlooked in favour of Enoggera Creek, a larger waterway already running along Brisbane's Tank Street and Creek Street
.
In 2008 Ithaca Intact and the Ithaca Creek State School in Lugg Street Bardon developed a education unit based on sustainability and natural and built environments, using Ithaca Creek as the local learning context. The topics which were discussed included water quality, biodiversity, sustainability, fauna movement corridors, invasive species and the role of native species within Enoggera Catchment. Activities included habitat sampling and macro-invertebrate sampling highlighted through Channel 7’s The Great South East. Class 4/3 D ran activities throughout Science Week for the entire school. The students and teachers from Ithaca Creek State School formally adopted Ithaca Creek, taking responsibility for on-going care of the creek including monitoring litter, water quality and engaging with the local bushcare group regarding working bees and tree plantings.
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia. It arises in in the Taylor Range at the Mount Coot-tha forest with two streams, one arising at J C Slaughter Falls
J C Slaughter Falls
J C Slaughter Falls is one of two sources of Ithaca Creek in Mt Coot-tha Forest ark. There is a picnic area and parking area. The Mt Coot-tha summit track travels from the J.C. Slaughter Falls Picnic Area travels through open eucalypt forest. The grade is steep over short sections...
, the other and stronger source being Simpson Falls
Simpson Falls
Simpson Falls are located within the Mount Coot-tha Forest, in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The waterway formed by Simpson Falls is the western branch of the headwaters of Ithaca Creek....
, the western branch.
Ithaca Creek runs through the suburbs of Bardon
Bardon, Queensland
Bardon is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located approximately 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. Bardon is a leafy residential suburb, much of which nestles into the foothills of Mount Coot-tha.-History:...
, Ashgrove
Ashgrove, Queensland
Ashgrove is an inner suburb of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia, located approximately 4 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. Ashgrove is a leafy residential suburb, characterised by its hilly terrain and characteristic Ashgrovian houses built in the early 20th century...
and Red Hill
Red Hill, Queensland
Red Hill is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia, located 3 km north-west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is very hilly and mainly residential, with shops and small businesses located on Musgrave and Waterworks Roads...
, where it joins Enoggera Creek
Enoggera Creek
Enoggera Creek is a waterway that rises on the D'Aguilar Range and flows into the Brisbane River. The creek's headwaters form on the southern slopes of Mount Nebo in Brisbane Forest Park....
27.4452°N 153.0022°W. Ithaca Intact, a creek restoration project by Save Our Waterways Now
Save Our Waterways Now
- Save Our Waterways Now :Save Our Waterways Now is a community-based organisation rehabilitating Enoggera catchment in Brisbane, the largest city in Queensland, Australia...
went into its third year mid 2010, backed by Queensland parliamentarians Kate Jones
Kate Jones
Kate Jennifer Jones is an Australian politician and Queensland Government minister. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party and was elected in the seat of State Electorate of Ashgrove in the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 2006 which was previously held by former Speaker of the Queensland...
, Member for Ashgrove and then Minister for the Environment, Andrew Fraser
Andrew Fraser (Queensland politician)
Andrew Peter Fraser is an Australian politician in the Queensland State Parliament. He was first elected into the Queensland Legislative Assembly on the 7 February 2004...
, Member for Mount Coot-tha and Queensland Treasurer, as well as local government councillors Geraldine Knapp and David Hinchliffe.
History
According to Queensland State LibraryState Library of Queensland
The State Library of Queensland is a large public library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the state government. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988...
, Ithaca Creek was named after the birthplace of Lady Diamantina Roma Bowen
Diamantina Bowen
Lady Diamantina Bowen was a Greek noble who became the wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, the first governor of Queensland.-Personal life:...
, wife of Sir George Ferguson Bowen, British colonial administrator, the 1st Governor of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
(in office 1859 - 1868). This appears to be in error as, according to the Australian Dictionary of Biography
Australian Dictionary of Biography
The Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
Diamantina was borne on Zante, another of the Ionian Islands
Ionian Islands
The Ionian Islands are a group of islands in Greece. They are traditionally called the Heptanese, i.e...
. The Ionian Islands, now part of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, was a British protectorate at the time and likely referred to collectively rather than individually. Ithaca
Ithaca
Ithaca or Ithaka is an island located in the Ionian Sea, in Greece, with an area of and a little more than three thousand inhabitants. It is also a separate regional unit of the Ionian Islands region, and the only municipality of the regional unit. It lies off the northeast coast of Kefalonia and...
in Greece has one of the world's largest natural harbours and is famous in legend as Homer
Homer
In the Western classical tradition Homer , is the author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and is revered as the greatest ancient Greek epic poet. These epics lie at the beginning of the Western canon of literature, and have had an enormous influence on the history of literature.When he lived is...
's Ithaca, the home of Ulysses
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
, whose delayed return to the island is one of the plot elements of the Odyssey
Odyssey
The Odyssey is one of two major ancient Greek epic poems attributed to Homer. It is, in part, a sequel to the Iliad, the other work ascribed to Homer. The poem is fundamental to the modern Western canon, and is the second—the Iliad being the first—extant work of Western literature...
. James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
's novel Ulysses
Ulysses
Ulysses is derived from Ulixes, the Latin name for Odysseus, a character in ancient Greek literature. For more on the name Ulysses, see Ulysses .Ulysses may also refer to:- Literature and film :...
sets the story of the wandering Ulysses
Odysseus
Odysseus or Ulysses was a legendary Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem the Odyssey. Odysseus also plays a key role in Homer's Iliad and other works in the Epic Cycle....
on one day in Dublin in the early 20th century.
Ithaca Creek was briefly considered as a potential main water supply for Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
but overlooked in favour of Enoggera Creek, a larger waterway already running along Brisbane's Tank Street and Creek Street
Creek Street, Brisbane
Creek Street is a major street in the central business district of Brisbane. Although the street is immediately within the Brisbane CBD, it has not been named accordingly, similar to that of other streets in the CBD...
.
Ithaca Intact
Ithaca Intact is a project by Save Our Waterways Now to restore the whole creek from Mount Coot-tha to Red Hill by building partnerships with business and government, informing and involving the community, reducing key weed species on private and public land, improving water quality, increasing flora and fauna and providing a peaceful and safe environment for enjoyment and relaxation.In 2008 Ithaca Intact and the Ithaca Creek State School in Lugg Street Bardon developed a education unit based on sustainability and natural and built environments, using Ithaca Creek as the local learning context. The topics which were discussed included water quality, biodiversity, sustainability, fauna movement corridors, invasive species and the role of native species within Enoggera Catchment. Activities included habitat sampling and macro-invertebrate sampling highlighted through Channel 7’s The Great South East. Class 4/3 D ran activities throughout Science Week for the entire school. The students and teachers from Ithaca Creek State School formally adopted Ithaca Creek, taking responsibility for on-going care of the creek including monitoring litter, water quality and engaging with the local bushcare group regarding working bees and tree plantings.