The highway itself is a scenic drive although steep with an 8-degree grade on the descent.
History
The Indigenous name for the location is Cappoong, though the meaning is unknown.[1] The local Indigenous people have a legend about the creation of the gap. In the dreamtime, the Yuggera people rounded up all the kangaroos in the area and fenced them into the valley west of Minto Crags (Whinpullin) to prevent other tribes from catching them. However, an old woman set them free. As they stampeded across the Great Dividing Range they tore a gap between Mount Mitchell (Coonyin-nirra) and Mount Cordeaux (Niamboyoo).[2]
In 1827, Allan Cunningham set out from the upper Hunter River, to explore west of the Dividing Range, exploring the Darling Downs; returning in 1828 from Brisbane to explore Cunninghams Gap.[3] He was aware of the economic benefits that a link between the coast and pastoral lands to the west would provide.[4] Cunningham travelled on the right hand side of the Gap whereas the highway today runs on the lefthand side from Aratula.
On 3 July 1909, Cunninghams Gap was declared a national park.[5] This new park, which originally consisted of 3,100 acres, was located on the western side of the range and included Gap Creek.[6] Walking tracks were constructed in the 1930s and 1950s.[5]
On 11 June 1927, the 100-year anniversary of Allan Cunningham's exploration of the Darling Downs, the new road through Cunningham's Gap was officially opened by the local Member of Parliament, Sir Littleton Groom.[7] Although the road, which was built entirely by volunteers, was officially open, travelling along this new route was inadvisable, especially on the portion west of Aratula.[7] The road was plagued by problems during this early embryonic stage with the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland announcing that the road was closed, less than one month after it was officially opened.[8] The new sealed road through the gap was eventually opened in November 1949.[9]
Recent
Cunninghams Gap is part of the Cunningham Highway, a federally funded highway managed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.[10] Between December 2010 and March 2011, the Gap experienced over two metres of rainfall and it sustained an enormous amount of damage.[10] The cost of repairing this seven kilometre stretch of road is projected to be $40 million.[10][11] Work is being undertaken by the Department of Transport and Main Roads in partnership with engineering firm Coffey.[11]
^ abDietrich, Georg (Managing Editor) (2011). "Flood-stricken highway on the road to recovery". Engineers Australia: Civil Edition. 84 (10): 39–40. ((cite journal)): |first1= has generic name (help)
