'Our Needs, Our Ways' Annie Clark, 2019

This artwork is featured on page seven of the Indigenous Accord 2020-2025.

The women in the corner nurturing a baby surrounded by bush medicine represents health and wellbeing. The three figures next to the woman, surrounded by the travelling lines represent the three main stages of business and development: the idea, the planning and the development. The three campsites connected to each other with people sitting around them represent the education and skills development by passing on knowledge. The two houses under the star represents housing. Connection to country is the river that runs through Ipswich. Without the river we would not have such a flourishing city. The hand print with the people sitting around represents the two elements of the Accord that go hand in hand, which is: Cultural respect and community engagement, and Community Safety.

Acknowledgement: Annie Clark and Ipswich City Council.

View the artwork on Picture Ipswich.

Cultural silhouette at Kholo Gardens representing traditional water craft used in our Rivers. The silhouette depicts two Aboriginal men in a bark canoe. In Ipswich and towards Boonah a canoe was called a Kundu/Gundu (pronounced gun-doo).

Image source: Ipswich City Council. View the image here.

Early settlers begin to use Colleges Crossing for bathing and experimenting with early canoes.

Image source: This item is held by the John Oxely Library, State Library of Queensland. View image source here.

Colleges Crossing becomes a popular site for families. This photo shows the O'Connell family from Bergin's Hill relaxing at their picnic to Colleges Crossing.

Image source: Picture Ipswich. View image source here.

By 1961, many of us drove to Colleges Crossing, but the site remains a favourite spot for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing.

Image source: Picture Ipswich. View image source here.

The site remains in a largely natural state and built facilities remain limited. Usage of the site for recreational activities such as swimming, fishing and picnics continues to flourish.

Image source: Picture Ipswich. View image source here.

A major flood event occurred at the site in January 2011. The site was closed for 23 months and reopened in December 2012.

Image source: lordphantom74. View image source here.

The site reopens following the major flood event of January 2011.

Image source: Ipswich City Council.

After being re-open for 1 month, a minor flooding event was experienced in January 2013.

Image source: Queensland Times, Picture Ipswich. View image source here.

After the minor flooding event of January 2013, the site was reopened in July 2013.

Image source: Ipswich City Council.

One of the four Aboriginal Art installations from Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul peoples illustrating continued cultural connections at the reserve.

Artwork pictured by Nathanael Bonner.

Colleges Crossing was significantly damaged by flood events in February 2022, and again in May 2022. The damaged experienced was well beyond that of the 2011 and 2013 flood events. The reserve currently remains closed to ensure public safety.

Image source: Kathie Nichols. View image source here.