THROUGH the evocative power of early photography, a new exhibition, On the Heights, invites visitors to explore the world of Australia’s pioneering mountaineers.
The free exhibition celebrates adventurers who transformed climbing into a cultural movement and takes viewers on a visual journey through an extraordinary period in Sunshine Coast history. Curated by climber and historian Michael Meadows, it draws on archival photographs, newspaper accounts, and personal collections from the early 1900s to 1930s.
Among the stories featured are the Clarke Sisters (c.1912), who cycled from New Farm to Bankfoot House for a weekend of climbing, and Bert Armitage Salmon, whose photographs document the rise of social climbing in Queensland. Other accounts, including those of the Dimes Sisters, highlight how women sought adventure and freedom atop the region’s peaks.
Sunshine Coast Council’s Heritage Portfolio Councillor David Law said the exhibition is a meaningful tribute to the region’s history and landscape. “We acknowledge that past recreational climbing did not always respect the values of Jinibara and Kabi Kabi Peoples, for whom the Glass House Mountains hold deep spiritual and cultural meaning,” Cr Law said.
On the Heights combines well-known stories with new research and rare items that bring these historical moments vividly to life
Some peaks once climbed by early adventurers are now protected as culturally significant sites and closed for recreational climbing, reflecting our shared responsibility to honour these sacred places.”
Visitors are reminded to respect First Nations Peoples’ wishes.
Official park signage and websites indicate mountains of spiritual significance, and alternative routes should be considered. Climbing is inherently dangerous and should only be undertaken with proper preparation, equipment, and experience. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service guidelines and closures must be followed.
Bankfoot House:1998 Old Gympie Road, Glass House Mountains Landsborough Museum: 4 Maleny Street, Landsborough. Cost: Free. Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10am–3pm More info:www.heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au