History Project Stories
OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
The Outdoor Classroom
From 2005 until 2007 Queanbeyan Landcare was responsible for weed removal, planting and the installation of the seats that comprise the Outdoor Classroom. This site can be found along the Queanbeyan River between the stormwater drain that runs off Thorpe Avenue and the small rocky outcrop further downstream called Connie’s Rock. It was used on many occasions for Environmental talks with school groups.
Plant lists for plantings at this site circa early 2000s
In recent years that planting has been accidentally sprayed and more recently mowed resulting in the loss of many of the native understory plants. The site has been inundated several times due to flooding, erosion has occurred, and weeds have appeared.
2011 Flooding images © Tom Baker
In 2022 the Friends of Queanbyan River group met with staff from QPRC and decided that with support they could improve the area. After 2007 Queanbeyan Landcare had little involvement with the Outdoor Classroom, except for Tom Baker who continued to visit the site to weed. The Minutes at the time noted that Tom reported that some of the early plantings has been accidentally sprayed and mowed resulting in the loss of many of the native understory plants. The site has been inundated several times due to flooding, erosion has occurred, and weeds have appeared.
Then in 2022 the Friends of Queanbeyan River group met with staff from QPRC and decided that with support they could improve the area. From 2022 until now, Queanbeyan Landcare has stepped back in to care for this area.
Read about our plans and the plantings at Outdoor Classroom Project. We hope our volunteers will continue to care for this area for many years to come. Tom Baker continues to visit the site with Lindsay Peak taking on a very energetic role.
[Gallery images from 2022 & 2023 © Michele Dovers]
Since then a number of planting, weeding and mulch spreading events have taken place at the site. A focus every year in February/March/April has been the hand removal of the weed Caltrop. This spiny, prostate plant produces significant burrs that are problem for dogs, bikes and people.
Connie’s Rock which is just downstream from the Outdoor Classroom is part of Queanbeyan’s early history being a significant site for gold mining along the river. The rock is called Connie’s Rock for the nuns from the nearby convent who would cross the river at that point (the river looked different then).
Gallery of the 2024 & 2025 Plantings/Weedings
[Gallery images above from 2024 & 2025 © Michele Dovers]
Lindsay Peak, a local resident also visits the site at other times to water, weed and plant as required. His partner Leanne C has taken several lovely photos of this site in 2025.
[Gallery images above from 2025 © Leanne C.]