Colinton: War Memorial and Brisbane Valley Rail Trail

Colinton brings together a tangible historical landmark, the Colinton War Memorial, and the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. The memorial is located along the route; the trail can be travelled on horseback, by bicycle or on foot. If you are looking for a hotel in Colinton, you can plan your trip around these two themes: the memorial’s history or an activity on the trail.

The Colinton War Memorial in detail

The memorial is listed as a heritage site. A stone slab stands on a stepped plinth; an urn sits at the top, with a carved laurel wreath below it. The inscription “Colinton Honour Roll - Our Boys” is engraved in an arch over the upper section. The design brings together the plinth and stone slab, two clearly recognisable motifs, and the lettering. When viewing the memorial, you can move from its structure to the inscription: the plinth and stone slab define its structure, the urn and laurel wreath provide the details, and the lettering names Colinton.

History and local remembrance

Colinton erected a simple sandstone monument in 1917; the Colinton War Memorial was also unveiled that year. It was designed by Frank Williams. The memorial bears the names of 43 men from the Colinton area who enlisted for military service in the First World War. The 43 names bring the memorial’s regional connection to life, while its year of construction and design mark its building history.

The location in Colinton

Since being relocated, the memorial has been situated in a public park beside a service station on the D’Aguilar Highway. This location connects the memorial site to three specific landmarks: the park, the service station and the highway. The memorial is also located along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail. For orientation, it is helpful to distinguish between this individual monument and the trail as a route; the memorial’s local history and use of the trail are different aspects of Colinton.

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail

The Brisbane Valley Rail Trail can be travelled on horseback, by bicycle or on foot. This range of options makes the route more than simply a walking trail; travellers can consider their planned mode of transport as a distinct part of their trip. The Colinton War Memorial is located along the route, bringing together a historic memorial and a trail used for different modes of travel in the context of Colinton.

Landscape in the surrounding area

Near Colinton, the Harlin–Moore section of the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail features creek crossings and elevated viewpoints. These landscape features belong to a named section of the trail and offer a different perspective from the architecture and inscription of the Colinton War Memorial. This offers a clear comparison when planning your trip: in Colinton, the focus is on the memorial site and its history; along the Harlin–Moore section, it is on the landscape along the route. This allows you to choose between an interest in local history and an interest in trail scenery.

Discover more destinations: Traveston, Moggill, North Tamborine, Weipa, Gatton, Kinka Beach, Wallangarra, Cassowary

For the broader travel overview: Queensland.