John Steele cites the Aboriginal name Benarrawa for Oxley Creek. However, it is very likely that different sections of the Creek and the catchment had specific Aboriginal names, e.g. Moolabin for the creek and waterholes at Tennyson.
In 1823 surveyor-explorer John Oxley named Oxley River, Canoe River and it was often termed 'Canoe River of Mr Oxley'. Major Lockyer's chart (1825) records possibly the first use of the name Oxley's Creek, although some years afterwards, Canoe Creek was generally used. Eventually, by usage, the creek became Oxley Creek. The reach of the river in that area is still known as Canoe Reach.

In addition to Oxley Creek itself, there are a number of tributaries feeding the main stream. The most notable of these, perhaps, are Crewe's Creek, Blunder Creek, the Anabranch (which is not actually a creek but a diversion as the name implies), Stable Swamp Creek, Moolabin Creek, and Rocky Water Holes Creek. Crewe's Creek (recorded on earlier maps as Sandy Creek) joins Oxley Creek near the junction of Goodna Road (previously known as Oxley Creek Road) and Ison Road at Greenbank. It is believed that Crewe's Creek is named after Samuel Mort Crewe who had at one time over 1,000 acres bordering Oxley Creek. Blunder Creek has its source within Greenbank Military Camp. Stable Swamp Creek, which rises in the Sunnybank Hills, joins Oxley Creek at Rocklea after crossing Coopers Plains and draining from an area of low, swampy land under Ipswich Road Freeway near Granard Road. Rocky Waterholes Creek rises on the south west side of Toohey Forest (Toohey Mt) Nathan. It disappears under Toohey Road to the Evans Road /Orange Grove Road intersection, through Salisbury to join Moolabin Creek in the Brisbane Golf Course (Yeerongpilly). Moolabin meets Oxley Creek downstream of Sherwood.

Oxley Creek Catchment

In the past.....

"....During summer holidays, as school boys, we had regularly swum and fished in the creek. Small boys dare not venture into Oxley Creek today. Its waters are grossly polluted and in part it would be possible to walk across it, and quite impossible to swim, or fish...."
Harry Pugsley

Waterholes were always popular:
: "... Nearly a lifetime ago, if you asked most fathers for the location of the best waterholes in the district, they'd automatically say ‘there are two facing Ipswich Road, this side of the crossing'. They meant of course Kelly's and Abercrombie's hotels. Their children though would have nominated nine different ones.
A very popular swimming hole was in Rice's paddock. It was one of the Rocky Waterholes chain. It was chest deep, had a sandy bottom and lay in a very open, well grassed paddock on the eastern side of the crossing, as the 'death trap'was then called. It had the advantage that you could see who was coming.
Just a little farther up the creek was another. This was in McDonald's paddock nearly opposite Rocklea Station. It was somewhat deeper but just as sandy. It was spanned by a very convenient log with a few shade trees nearby. While swimming alone there one day a girl drowned. Few swam there afterwards even though it was the closest to the school.
Jimmy Trow's swimming hole was near Salisbury bridge. If you had no togs it was the first favourite as it was surrounded by a dense screen of trees. A big old ti-tree stood on its bank and from it dangled a long rope. Even with a big swing and a feet first drop no one ever claimed to have touched bottom.
There was no argument that the most desirable swimming spot was near the present Salisbury High School fence. A spring board reached out over a rather long deep rock hole. The fact that this was inside Ferguson's fence and that people only swam there by invitation, certainly added spice to the compulsion to jump in every chance they got. Actually Greer's hole, the next one farther up the creek, was nearly as good, but never seemed to give the same satisfaction.
Tuckett's swimming hole was well remembered because it was there that a shark took Jimmy Tuckett's dog. However, this didn't prevent it from becoming a popular swimming spot.
The Russian's swimming hole was named after Vera Vonchakoff's father, who later had a foundry nearby. It was close to Beaudesert Road near the bridge opposite Salisbury Railway Station. Over most boys heads it was, but more than a few proved that the Stable Swamp Creek was also lined with sand in those days.
Without a doubt the daredevil's choice was the Blue Metal Quarry (Mortimer Road, Acacia Ridge). The water was cold and the water was deep, by nearly as much as eighty feet. Neither parents nor police could keep "Rockholers" out. Finally pollution achieved what they couldn't. A treasure trove of USA military relics was dumped into it at the end of World War II. A fence now protects the unwary.
Much, much farther afield was Freney's swimming hole at the Blunder. With its rustic tower and other amenities, it was the place to be seen, to advertise the change from a child to a teen. Invariably most ventured there to swim in this ninth hole as a sort of graduation.
Somewhat reluctantly a supplementary place was found when the South Brisbane Baths closed down. Barnacle's Reach on Stable Swamp Creek was used as a substitute - for boys only. It was tidal, surrounded by mangroves, and generally thought not worth the effort to march there, even though it did have a log across it. Since the boys attended by direction, opinion could still be somewhat tinged with prejudice.
One old timer after thinking for a while, remarked 'what a rum thing it is, that all nine preferred water holes are now not even a shadow of their former selves, while Barnacles Reach still retains its old lack lustre image - but then cockroaches live longer than butterflies, don't they?'....'
Rocklea State School Centenary 1885-1985, Tapestry of Time

Further down the creek in spawning times, it was the practise for the locals go out at night with a lantern with the nets strung across the back of the boat. The mullet would jump out of the water and the net would divert them into the boat. A very profitable evening for those participating. If you're lucky now you might see one jump during the day, but reporting's are very few and far between.
Jocelyn Clarkson, "Memories of Oxley Creek"

Strickland Tce Parklands







Greenbank Reserve



Boats on Oxley Creek

Recreation today

Parks and Reserves along the Oxley Creek, from the mouth:

Simpson's Playground	Graceville	West side
Bert St. Clair Oval	Graceville	West side
St Joseph's Christian Brothers Sports Ground	Tennyson	East side
Strickland Terrace Parklands (not officially named)	Graceville/Sherwood	West side
Nosworthy Park	Corinda	West side
St Aidan's Sports Field	Corinda	West side
Oxley Recreation Reserve	Corinda	West side
Oxley Day/Night Golf Driving Range (Commercial)	Oxley	West side
Norma Croker Park	Acacia Ridge	West and east side
Pallara Parklands	Pallara	West side
Un-named	Forestdale	East side
Greenbank Environmental Reserve	Greenbank (on army land and used by Greenbank State School as permitted by army)	East side

The Canoe Trail ....

The Oxley Creek Canoe Trail winds along the lower ten kilometres of the creek. Fishing and canoeing are popular pastimes here. In the remnant bushland along the creek, birdwatching, picnicking, and bike riding are common activities.

References
Harry Pugsley, in the Courier Mail Colour Supplement on 14 Aug 1977
Rocklea State School Centenary 1885-1985, Tapestry of Time
Jocelyn Clarkson, commentary from "Memories of Oxley Creek" March 1997 (Audio tape)
John Steele in Aboriginal Pathways (p.122)