Group leader: Anne Jones
Where Fish Creek meets Enoggera Creek, Walton Bridge Reserve is part of The Gap’s endangered subtropical rainforest (RE 12.3.16). The site adjoins the Glenella Street Park bushcare site and the Enoggera Army Barracks, which contains large areas of relatively undisturbed dry sclerophyll bush.
Started in 2002 by Robert Whyte, Mark Crocker and Anne Jones, Walton Bridge Reserve bushcare site has significant challenges including the bridge itself which is a pinch point on Enoggera Creek exacerbating local flood damage.
Walton Bridge is one of the six bushcare sites which comprise The Gap Rainforest Project. See The Gap Rainforest Statement of Significance PDF.
This bushcare site is supported by the Brisbane City Council Habitat Brisbane program. The Walton Bridge Reserve Group meets at 3 pm on the first Saturday of every month except January. For more information phone Anne Jones on 0438 047 910, or check out the group’s Facebook page.
Sandra Taylor and Anne Jones planting Lomandra at the junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks. Enoggera Creek is to the left of the image and Fish Creek enters from the right. Photo: Marina Novak
Fish Creek viewed from the Lochinvar Lane footbridge looking downstream towards Enoggera Creek. Photo: Anne Jones
Enoggera Creek at Walton Bridge Reserve. Photo: Anne Jones
Zone map of Walton Bridge Reserve. The junction of Fish and Enoggera Creeks coincides with the junction of Zones 1,2 and 3. Courtesy: Brisbane City Council
To assist volunteers to remember the names of the zones, the group has assigned names to each zone:
- Zone 1 – Fish Creek as this is the only zone at Walton Bridge Reserve on Fish Creek
- Zone 2 – Auntie Rita as this zone contains a dedication to Aboriginal elder Rita Huggins (photo and information below)
- Zone 3 – The Island as the zone is effectively an island bounded by Enoggera Creek, Fish Creek and Lochinvar Lane
- Zone 4 – Soccer Ground which adjoins Enoggera Creek on the west side
- Zone 5 – Jevons Street which runs parallel to Enoggera Creek on the east side
Located at Walton Bridge Reserve, the plaque on this stone plinth reads “In memory of RITA HUGGINS 1921-1996. A bridge between two cultures and an inspirational modern day Aboriginal pioneer of The Gap. Her book “Auntie Rita” was launched at Poet’s corner on 3 September 1994.” The Rita Huggins Memorial is located in zone 2 (see aerial map above) near the footbridge across Enoggera Creek. The Memorial was erected by Brian Hallinan, a founder of SOWN and Councillor for The Gap ward from 27 March 1982 to 15 March 1997. Brian called this section of Walton Bridge “Poet’s corner”. A revised edition of the book Auntie Rita was launched at the site in 2023 by the book’s co-author and Rita’s daughter Jackie Huggins. The book Auntie Rita is available from Avid Reader.
