Kholo

The history of the naming of Kholo remains elusive. Over the years many people have tried to determine when and why this area was named Kholo. There is a map for the Parish of Kholo in 1853 at the Queensland State Archives. The original Kholo area was much larger than it is today. It went from Kholo Creek near Ugly Gully almost up to Lake Manchester and to Chuwar. What is now known as Mt Crosby was called Lower Kholo. The name Kholo could date back to the 1850s prior to the separation of Queensland from New South Wales.

Several reports were given by early explorers indicating the presence of coal on the site of the present day Kholo Gardens. Allan Cunningham, in his report of Governor Darling on February 24, 1828, stated that he had seen a seam of coal on the Bremer River, above and below Limestone Station. He stated also that he had seen coal at three or four miles to the north of that river, in the steep banks of dry creeks, which were tributaries of the Brisbane River. He also saw coal in the bed of the Brisbane River.

According to the account by Major Lockyer which was published in the Sydney Gazette dated 20th November 1825 on his expedition up the Brisbane River, he reports having observed a ‘vein of coal’, possibly the site of the first discovery of coal in Queensland. Distances and compass bearings which Lockyer had recorded during the period 12th and 13th September 1825 strongly suggests that the place of his discovery was situated in the area above the present Kholo Crossing (on the right hand bank) near the site of the later to be established ‘old Ipswich water pumping station and weir’, thus making the name Coal Creek very appropriate.

The land prior to 1876 was free hold and after 1876 is was a Reserve for Stock Watering purposes. In 1878 it was altered to Water Reserve and that year a Pumping Station was commissioned for this site to serve the people of Ipswich. There are two wells still in evidence which are in excess of 20 metres deep.

Of interest is the 100 year old mining cottage which has been moved from Kerwick Street, Redbank to its siting in Kholo Gardens. This cottage has strong links with mining history in Ipswich as it was the birthplace of Jim Donald in 1895. Jim Donald, a local miner, was also a prominent figure in Ipswich history. Before entering politics, he was Vice President and later Secretary of the Colliery Employees’ Union. His political career included his election to State Member for Bremer in 1946. This seat is today known as Ipswich. Mr Donald served as Member until his retirement in 1969. At one time he also held the position as Leader of the Opposition.

A house from the former Queensland Woollen Manufacturing Company site on the Terrace at North Ipswich was relocated to what is now the Kholo Gardens. The former Redbank Uniting Church was relocated to Kholo Botanic Gardens in October 1990. This building opened as the Redbank Methodist Church on 24 September 1904 and was located opposite the Redbank State School. In 1914 the Church was lined and sealed and April 1956 new windows were installed and the church was painted for the first time.