Alexander Clark Park, Loganholme

Alexander Clark Park, Loganholme is a recreation park featuring native flora in Logan City, Queensland, Australia. Facilities include walking and cycling paths, wheelchair access, dog off-leash areas, picnic tables and barbecues, children playgrounds, fitness equipment, and riverside pontoons.[1] The Loganholme park occupies an inner bend of the Logan River upstream from the Pacific Motorway crossing and Logan River Parklands. Diverse and endangered tree species have been protected within the park.

Alexander Clark Park, Loganholme
Alex Clark Park
2016
Location in Queensland
Location in Loganholme
TypeRecreation, Native Flora
LocationLoganholme, Queensland, Australia
Coordinates27°42′05″S 153°11′24″E
Area23 hectares (57 acres)
Created1975 (1975)
Administered byLogan City Council
WebsiteAlexander Clark Park - Logan City Council

History
Playground

Situated in what is now the suburb of Loganholme, the park once formed part of 1,280 acres (518 ha) applied for by Thomas Oldham around 1862, under the government regulations of 1861 to encourage cotton growing.[2] After subdivision, and establishment of the Loganholme Plantation to grow sugar cane by the surveyor William Fryar, the land was eventually purchased by the pastoralist James Tyson in 1876.[3]

A housing estate development in the 1970s, Marana Gardens, included an area for the park which was named Alexander Clark Memorial Park in 1976 after the pioneer and former councillor for the Albert Shire; the site having once formed part of his family's property.[4]

In 1981, the North Albert Bowhunters Club moved to the site, establishing a competition range and camping area; by 1983 however, there were difficulties with the council planning a public recreational facility.[5] During the 1980s and 1990s an Australian Football playing field was located in the park, home to local football club the Cobra's.

The park has a bushcare group which was granted funds in 2003 under the National Landcare Programme to remove weeds along the river aiming to prevent erosion, plant native trees and help in the recovery of the endangered Angle-stemmed myrtle tree species.[6]

Native flora

Tree species which are native to the subtropical and warm temperate habitat of the Moreton Bay region can be seen in the park. Along with 200 year old blue gum trees (also known as forest red gums, Eucalyptus tereticornis),[1] notable trees include:

Common name[a] Labelled specimen[b]
Aleurites moluccanuscandle nut 27.70133°S 153.19158°E / -27.70133; 153.19158 (Aleurites moluccanus (candle nut))
Alphitonia excelsasoap tree 27.70163°S 153.19207°E / -27.70163; 153.19207 (Alphitonia excelsa (soap tree))
Alstonia scholarismilky pine 27.70141°S 153.19156°E / -27.70141; 153.19156 (Alstonia scholaris (milky pine))
Castanospermum australeblackbean 27.70159°S 153.19207°E / -27.70159; 153.19207 (Castanospermum australe (blackbean))
Eucalyptus tereticornisforest red gum 27.70153°S 153.19209°E / -27.70153; 153.19209 (Eucalyptus tereticornis (forest red gum))
Ficus macrophyllaMoreton Bay fig 27.70178°S 153.19163°E / -27.70178; 153.19163 (Ficus macrophylla (Moreton Bay fig))
Flindersia schottianabumpy ash 27.70124°S 153.19173°E / -27.70124; 153.19173 (Flindersia schottiana (bumpy ash))
Jagera pseudorhusfoam bark tree 27.70157°S 153.19207°E / -27.70157; 153.19207 (Jagera pseudorhus (foam bark tree))
Melaleuca bracteatablack tea-tree 27.7011°S 153.19158°E / -27.7011; 153.19158 (Melaleuca bracteata (black tea-tree))
Melaleuca viminalisweeping bottlebrush 27.70137°S 153.19266°E / -27.70137; 153.19266 (Melaleuca viminalis (weeping bottlebrush))
Melia azedarachwhite cedar 27.70162°S 153.19263°E / -27.70162; 153.19263 (Melia azedarach (white cedar))
Nauclea orientalisLeichhardt tree 27.70123°S 153.19164°E / -27.70123; 153.19164 (Nauclea orientalis (Leichhardt tree))
a common names sourced from park labels
b trees with botanical signs in the park

Angle-stemmed myrtle
Exercise equipment and covered tables

The park is one nine localities known for original populations of the endangered Gossia gonoclada (synonym Austromyrtus gonoclada) of the myrtle family, found only in the Moreton Bay region. Two naturally occurring G. gonoclada trees are recorded in the park, with a further 31 having been planted as part of a recovery plan for the species.[7]

References
  1. "Alexander Clark Park". Logan City Council - Parks Directory. Retrieved 12 July 2016.
  2. Buchanan, Robyn, Logan: Rich in History - The Short Reign of King Cotton (PDF), Logan City Council, p. 27, retrieved 12 July 2016
  3. Suburb History - Loganholme (PDF), Logan City Council, retrieved 12 July 2016
  4. "Pioneer Honoured (news cutting)" (c. January 1976). Local Studies collection, File: Loganholme. Logan Central Library: Logan City Council. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  5. "Bowhunters are now on the outer". Albert and Logan News. 13 May 1983. p. 44.
  6. "Control of Balloon Vine in Alexander Clark Park Loganholme Queensland". Australian Government funded NRM project details. Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment. Archived from the original on 25 February 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  7. Austromyrtus gonoclada Recovery Team; McNeill, Fiona (2001). Recovery plan for the angle-stemmed myrtle Austromyrtus gonoclada 2001-2005 (PDF) (Report). Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

Further reading
  • Howells, Mary (2003). "Alex Clark Park, Loganholme". Logan River Tinnie Trail : a heritage trail along the Logan River. Illustrated by Darren Johnson. Logan City Council. p. 86. ISBN 0975051903.
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