Pine Rivers SHSSchoolHistoryThe Old Fig Tree

The Old Fig Tree

The discovery of gold at Gympie in 1867 caused an upsurge in the number of travellers passing through Pine Rivers. Tom Petrie's changing station and hostelry in North Pine (Petrie) catered adequately for the twice weekly Cobb & Co. coaches which passed through on their way to Gympie. Occasional flooding of the crossings over Four Mile Creek and the North Pine River caused delays to the service. This provided incentive for early Pine Rivers settler, James Wallin, to establish a second coach house on land he had selected in 1869 on the southern side of Four Mile Creek near the corner of Gympie Road and Buckby Street on what is now part of the playing fields of the Pine Rivers High School.

The Coach House comprised a main building and numerous sheds. A license was obtained and the Coach House operated from 1871 until 1877 as the Four Mile Creek Hotel. It was the first hotel to open in the Pine Rivers area. The property was later sold to the Buckby family. During World War 2 it served as RAAF wives quarters while pilots and other personnel served at the Strathpine A2 air strip formerly located along Spitfire Ave. The building later served as a fruit and vegetable stop on Gympie Rd. It was demolished when Pine Rivers District High School was established. All that remains of this important site is a large Moreton Bay Fig tree which once shaded the coach house.

The fig tree, with it's enormous gnarled trunk sits on the boundary line and still has pieces of fencing wire and nails embedded in it's trunk as it no doubt served on occasion as an oversize fence post. A Pine Rivers Shire Council historic marker is located close by remembering it's place in history. A bus stop nearby echoes its past.

Reference:

1. Barter, L. "Shire History - Strathpine"  Pine Rivers Shire. http://www.prsc.qld.gov.au/yourShire/History/Strathpine.htm [28/09/01]
2. Smith, L. S. "Tracks and Times"  Pine Rivers Shire Council. 1988

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During 1999 water reticulation was upgraded at Pine Rivers State High School. The costly and lengthy project required some major excavation on the top oval in the Buckby St, Gympie Rd corner to make new connections to the water mains. While excavating the contractors encountered quantities of 'household' debris including ash, metal and glassware. Two bottles were salvaged from the site. The excavation took place in the area of the old Coach House.

7th December 2007