HELIDON HILLS - UNIQUE FLORA AND FAUNA

Just a short drive from the township of Helidon will have you in the picturesque Helidon Hills.  The Helidon Hills is a rare and unique area here in South East Queensland.  Helidon Hills even has its very own Eucalyptus Helidonica (Helidon Hills White Mahogany) and is home to a number of unique, rare or endangered species of flora and fauna not found elsewhere. 

If you visit Helidon,  take some time out to drive through the hills.
It's easy to see which way to go - just head for the hills!!  

Helidon Spa Water & Helidon Spa Park.
Researched and written by June Webster. Copies may be obtained by writing to: Joan Webster, P.O. Box 2572, Toowoomba 4350.  Joan's book is published by www.communitybooks.com.au

The true custodians of the land new all too well of the curative affects of the natural spring water of “oogagding” (meaning “water from the moon”) it originally was used by the indigenous people to “make the weak strong and the strong stronger” as it contained healing powers. This is the same site that would see in the near future dynamic economic trade and world acclaim for the natural product that gushed forth from the depths below.

The drinking water and soft drink was not the only claim to fame as far back as 1920 a therapeutic mineral water pool was established by the title holders but from that point to 1936 the park site changed hands a number of times before a Mr Hennery bought the 3 properties and registered the business name “Crystal Spa”.

This quote taken from the back of a post card during the war times reads “destined to be an Australian rendezvous for health and recreation combining nature's gifts of sun baking curative waters and mineral impregnated sands.” As wonderful as this may have sounded during the 1930s there was no deigning that the depression had taken its inevitable toll on the Crystal Spa business with only a small number people visiting on Sundays .

This was all to change under the management of Mr Francis Baker. In the 1951 his family made a number of modifications to the park and also charged sixpence (5c) admission per person (sixpence was also the price of fuel at the time) there was a large kiosk, change rooms, bbqs and a dance hall with a duke box that played nonstop. 1956 however saw the park closed for the season due to weeds growing on the pool floor. The Baker family sold the park to the Jahnke family in 1957 and it remained dormant until the mammoth task of rebuilding the park was undertaken by the Elliot's who purchased the land from the Jahnkes in July 1959. The new owners saw the potential for a very lucrative business opportunity and wasted no time in achieving this. They re opened the park in December 59 right in time to take advantage of the holiday season. The official opening of the Helidon Spa Park was on the 23 of Oct 1960 which drew crowds exceeding 1000. The program started at 10am and was followed by 12 jammed packed hours of fun food and entertainment and was hailed as the place to be as it was one of the biggest tourist attractions in Queensland. This fact alone drew people from all directions.

Not only does the Famous Helidon Spa name conjure up fond memories of a very challenging but proud era for the owners and patrons alike there would be also very fond memories of the entertainment on offer unparallel to any other rural country town in Queensland .

During the parks glory days the summer months were a hive of activity as it boasted the largest man made swimming pool in the southern hemisphere (as big as three Olympic pools) filled with the legendary sparkling mineral water. Adjacent the incredible pool was the two and a half acre natural boating lake and the five acre man made water ski lake filled with eight million gallons of sparkling mineral water. Paddle boats, canoes, rubber truck and tractor tyres, plus skis were available for hire. Water skiing proved to be a very popular drawcard as the more daring patrons took to the water to show off their skill. A great deal of skill was also required by the boat drives on the short course. It has been said that “if you can ski in Helidon you can ski anywhere”. The Helidon Spa Park Ski club successfully ran for five years treating spectators to ladies ski ballet, incredible acrobatics barefoot skiing and massive jumps. And for providing the entertainment the skiers were paid five shillings each (50c). If you weren't a water baby there was also a 9 hole mini golf course to keep you amused.

Helidon Spa Park was also the place for touring and local bands to display their talent. And entertain the growing crowds. As the crowd numbers swelled to hundreds each weekend due to overwhelming popularity of the local bands, ski events, fun in the sun and just having a good ol' fashion time so too did the calibre of the guests who performed at the spa . Due to popular demand the Helidon spa was host to many Australian music icons and in some cases a stepping stone to international stardom for the performers .

The big names of the time like Normie Rowe, Col Joy, Johnny O'Keefe, and Russel Morris.

And big name bands like the Bee Gees and the Delltones would entertain hundreds of screaming fans for hours on end.