Call for popular Killarney Glen Falls to be reopened despite the risk

The popular heart-shaped Killarney Glen Falls were closed after a teen drowned in 2016. Now, family owners have spoken out on why it needs to be open to the public again.

The family who previously owned the Gold Coast land where the Insta-famous heart-shaped Killarney Glen Falls are have called for the once popular tourist hotspot to be reopened – despite authorities deeming the falls unsafe.

The tragic drowning of a 19-year-old man at the falls in December 2016 prompted authorities and the Department of Defence, who now own the land, to close the falls to the public.

A chance to snap a great Insta-worthy photo though has lured dozens to risk breaking the law to visit the falls.

The Fitzgerald family, from Beechmont, used to own the Killarney Glen Falls before the Department of Defence took over the land. Picture: Instagram.

In the past month six young people have been hauled before the Beaudesert Magistrates court, where they pleaded guilty to trespassing on defence land while chasing the perfect photo.

Dave Kan, the grandson of the land’s former owner Pat Fitzgerald, of Beechmont, is calling for the falls to be reopened.

“The land has belonged to our family for a very long time and grandad was very passionate about it,” Mr Kan said.

“He did not want to hand it over to the military so the compulsory acquisition didn’t actually happen until after he passed away in 1997.”

Mr Fitzgerald put a great deal of effort into the area building the camp, which still stands today, the 4WD road and installing a phone line and basic plumbing.

The Fitzgerald family, from Beechmont, used to own the Killarney Glen Falls before the Department of Defence took over the land. Picture: Instagram.

“Christmas holidays with grandma and grandad will always be some of my favourite memories of Killarney, when we’d swim in the creek and decorate a little hoop pine as our Christmas tree,” Mr Kan said.

“It’s a particularly meaningful place to my mum, who was there with grandad when he passed away.

“My uncle fought to keep Killarney Glen open to the public after it was compulsorily acquired to be locked away as a ‘buffer zone’ for the nearby army training facility.”

Mr Kan said his grandfather’s greatest wish was for Killarney Glen to be protected and open for all to enjoy – something he and his family hope to see happen.

“It’s really depressing how it’s been closed and locked away to the public,” he said.

“It’s just such a beautiful place.

“I mean people die every year at various other swimming holes. Some have multiple deaths a year, and they aren’t all closed.”

A Department of Defence spokesman said a safety review of the falls, following the death of the 19-year-old in 2016, found a number of dangerous hazards including steep cliff faces, submerged objects and fast-flowing water.

Keen photographer Dave Kan said the falls most recently belonged to his late grandfather. Picture: Dave Kan.

“These hazards, and Killarney Glen’s large visitor numbers, led to multiple injuries at the site prior to December 2016,” the spokesman said.

The findings of the review and legal and recreational advice led the Department of Defence to permanently close the site in November 2020.

Signs and fences alerting people to the closure have not stopped them from visiting the falls.

Logan Acting Superintendent Peter Miles said there had been a surge in offences in the past 12 months.

“I know we’ve all got a sense of adventure and it’s a pretty spot but someone’s already paid the ultimate price for that,” Acting Supt Miles said.

“That sense of adventure turns into tragedy when you lose your life.

“It is a fairly isolated location too so if someone is in trouble it may take emergency services a while to get to you, and that’s if you can even get through to us. The phone reception is spotty and not at all reliable.”

Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen said the council supported the decision to keep the falls closed.

Originally published as Call for popular Killarney Glen Falls to be reopened despite the risk