Glass House Mountains National Park closed after vandals carve into million-year-old rock

Rangers believe power tools were used to grind a statement into a rock within a national park under a cover of darkness.

A national park has been partially closed to the public after vandals destroyed a significant site to First Nations people which is millions of years old.

On the morning of May 20, Glass House Mountain park rangers discovered a rock at the base of Mt Beerwah had been defaced with the words “Jesus Saves, Just Ask”.

An alert was issued on the Queensland Parks and Forests website on Friday, declaring the “entire park is closed to the public” temporarily, although it appears to apply only to the Mt Beerwah section.

“The temporary closure will allow for cultural healing and reparations following vandalism on the Mountain,” the statement read.

The Mt Beerwah section of the National Park will remain closed for at least a month. Picture: DES

The closure will give investigators time to find the offenders and repair the site. Picture: DES

The mountain holds “high cultural significance” to the local Indigenous community, the Jinibara People.

Following the shocking environmental vandalism on Mt Beerwah last week, the (QPWS), with the support of the Jinibara People, is temporarily closing the mountain to allow for reparations and cultural healing.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Director Geoff Brittingham said the senseless act has disgusted rangers and the Jinibara Traditional Owners.

“Not only has this callous person/s extensively defaced an area of rock, but they have also caused immeasurable damage and hurt to the Jinibara’s wellbeing,” Mr Brittingham said.

“Mt Beerwah is registered as a ‘Significant Aboriginal Area’ and the broader community has also expressed outrage over the incident.

“This temporary closure will allow for further investigation of the vandalism and time for rangers and the Jinibara to work together to repair and minimise long-term visual damage to the rock face.

“The mountain won’t be reopened until the healing has taken place and the environmental vandalism has been repaired.”

Mr Brittingham said the Jinibara People had supported the closure in an effort to heal after the destruction of their sacred sight.

“For the Jinibara, I hope this will in some way provide time and space to seek to heal deeper cultural wounds,” he said.

“QPWS and the Jinibara have zero-tolerance to any kind of environmental vandalism and we are asking people to respect the closure.”

Vandals have carved ‘Jesus Saves’ into a rock with significance to the Indigenous people of Mt Beerwah. Picture: DFES

Rangers believe vandals defaced the rock at the base of Mt Beerwah on May 20. Picture: DES

Senior ranger Nat Smith said he and his colleagues believe the vandals visited the site under a cover of darkness and used a power tool to grind the words into the stone.

“Regardless of what it says, the graffiti is a terrible act,” Mr Smith said.

“It looks clumsy and awful, and rangers and the community take a zero-tolerance approach to offences like this in our national parks.”

He condemned the actions of the vandals, saying they show a “lack of respect” for the traditional owners of the land and the environment.

“It is difficult to understand the mindset of the people who did this and the lack of respect they have for the natural and cultural values of the national park,” Mr Smith said.

“To have it defaced like this is appalling.”

Senior ranger Nat Smith said the act showed a lack of respect for the traditional owners. Picture: DES

A power tool was likely used to carve deep into the rock. Picture: DES

The closure will allow the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to undertake investigations into the vandalism, with offenders facing up to $500,000 in penalties and up to two years’ imprisonment for the offence.

An additional penalty of up to $132,750 is possible under second offences outlined in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003.

They could also be responsible for paying the tens of thousands of dollars it could cost to rehabilitate the site.

The national park’s closure was made effective immediately from 4.17pm on May 26 and will remain in place until at least July 9.

The vandalism is considered culturally insensitive. Picture: DFES

Alternative hiking and rock scrambling tracks have been made available at Mount Ngungun and the Yul-yan-man track at Mount Beerburrum.

Visitors are advised to observe all signage, barriers and directions from rangers and to not enter closed areas.

The QPWS is asking for the public’s assistance to help identify the people responsible for the act.

“This vandalism is deliberate and destructive; someone in the community will know who did it,” Mr Smith said.

“The rock has been here for millions of years; environmental vandalism in our national parks is extremely disappointing.”

Anyone with information can call the Department of Environment and Science on [phone] or make an anonymous call on 1300 130 372.

Originally published as Glass House Mountains National Park closed after vandals carve into million-year-old rock