In 1828, Cunningham and Fraser observed huts at what is now Oxley or Inala: "The hills are formed of a light sandy soil, and clothed with a sward of good grass, and I remarked several encampments of natives, the shape of whose huts were different from any I had hitherto seen." (Steele)

"In the mid-1860s, three of the Lahey boys used to ride on horseback from Coopers Plains to Sherwood (then called West Oxley) to a private school run by Alexander Boyd. This was their nearest school and pre-dated the present Sherwood State School. To get there they had to cross Oxley Creek on a rough bridge close to where Aborigines lived in the scrub. David, the youngest, was said to be frightened when riding past their camp each day." (Shirley Lahey) "It is very difficult to identify Greenbank with any particular group of Aborigines and it could well have been divided between the Gugingin Clan of Yugumbir near the Logan River and the Yerongpan Clan of Yuggera near Oxley Creek. Or perhaps it was used by both as a pathway. There is a language difference between the Yugumbir and Yuggera people." ... "From the mid 1870s there were reports of Aborigines travelling from their camp near Undulla to fish in Oxley Creek and sometimes bartering their catch for flour, sugar and tobacco. The Aborigines also passed on some of their traditional medicine which used local plants. It appears the Aborigines and pioneers were able to co-exist and interact in those early days of settlement.

Rocklea State School Centenary 1885-1985, Tapestry of Time cites a 1929 report in The Sunday Mail. It is about a site occupied by a factory at the end of Newman St, Moorooka: "Before the coming of the white man the Aborigines roamed and hunted over the entire district, the Rocky Waterholes being a favourite camping ground; and today a big fig tree marks the site of the old corroboree 'ring'. This historic tree was planted by one Isaac Sinnamon, who, in the early days, owned the property now in the possession of Mr J Rice at Rocklea...." These Aborigines were with the group of King Jacky, appointed, 'Jacky, King of the Logan, Albert and Pimpama'. He wore this inscribed brass 'King Plate' which was presented to him on behalf of the Government by W.H. Walsh, MLA in 1875. He had become an elder of his group in 1863. His family name was Bilin Bilin. Stories of this group of Yugumbir people are reported at Cedar Grove, Waterford and Norman Creek.........." (Joanne Scott)

Annie Mackenzie (1992), writes of the Aboriginal people of the district that they: "...feasted on snakes, wallabies, possums and in the swampy water holes they found that roots of ferns, bulbs of lilies and fresh water bullrushes were edible - in fact, a delicacy which added variety to their diet. The many creeks and waterholes swarmed with fish, lobbies and bird life. To this day one creek, Moolabin Creek, still exists. "Moolabin" being Aboriginal for "plenty fish" ....... According to early reports, Rocklea was a favourite hunting ground for the tribes as there was an abundant supply of game who (sic) lived in the thick scrub,		and fish and bird life in and around the Rocky Waterholes. A huge slab of rock towered above the waterholes. This afforded a vantage point and look-out .... and is reported to have given Rocklea its name. She continues: ".... Parts of the creek were drained, but remains of it still flow peacefully through the Golf Links (at Tennyson)....... Adjacent to the 14th fairway is a waterhole which lays claim to never having dried up during the history of Brisbane..." Annie Mackenzie (Note: it is also believed that Rocklea may have got its name from Railways shortening Rocky Water Holes when they put the station in.)

Documented observation of Aboriginal life at Oxley Creek are sketchy. However, the clan Yerongpan probably roamed over parts of the catchment and called the creek "Benarrawa". Aborigines used the abundant resources of the Oxley Creek catchment. In swampy areas they obtained their staple food, such as the roots of the bungwall fern at Willawong, the fruits of the mangroves which they modified for eating, and animals that they hunted. They used local sandstones for grinding tools. Ochre and shelters and the jasper and chalcedony for stone tools. Remnants of their stone tools have been found beside the creek at Acacia Ridge and near the catchment at the Camira bora ground. The Yerongpan people are said to have had a ceremonial ground site on a floating island in a lagoon at Chelmer. This site is now the Sherwood Australian Rules Football Ground. A photograph of the site appears in Sherwood District Centenary Celebrations 1867-1967.

Reports from early settlers indicate there were probably up to six hundred Aborigines at campsites for special corroborees in the catchment. Even in the 1840's, their numbers were dwindling, Aborigines had suffered the ravages of introduced diseases, alcohol and opium abuse and the loss of food resources with land clearing. Finally in 1897 with the Protection of Aborigines and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act forced the 50 or 60 remaining Aborigines onto a reserve at Deebing Creek near Ipswich, which was moved to Purga Creek early in 1916. By 1928 only six Aborigines were known to live in the area. (Know Your Creek - Oxley Creek)

References: Libby Wager, Wagers Ageless Series 'Know your Creek - Oxley Creek', Oxley Creek Environment Group,1998 Joanne Scott in Rocklea State School Centenary 1885-1985, 'Tapestry of Time' Graphics by Joyce Watson Annie Mackenzie, (1992), 'Memories Along the Boggo Track' J.G. Steele, 1972, 'The Explorers of the Moreton Bay District 1770-1830', University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, Queensland. Shirley Lahey, 'David Lahey, 1858-1942' and Richard Lahey.

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