The Morton Bay Courier: 9th Feb, 1850.
[Before reading this next clip, we'll add a few comments. Both Tony Healy and myself visited this lagoon in 2001. The aerial view of the lagoon strangely resembles the Lochness monster! It really does! The lagoon is not as large now as it was in the 18th century, which in flood time linked with the Logan River. There were many sightings of this serpent-type creature by the property owners and workers over time - Mr. and Mrs. Savage who owned the property (been in the family for generations), held a detailed history log of all sightings over the past two hundred years and were very proud of the Homestead's history.
About a hundred years ago, due to the steep edges, an entire horse and wine filled cart was lost into the lagoon and was unable to be retrieved despite major efforts.
Modern day divers have attempted to reach the bottom of the lagoon, which is of an extraordinary and still unknown depth, however they failed. The locals now believe that this lagoon was a result of a meteor hundreds of years ago, due to that one side of the lagoon is seemingly 'lifted' in a direction, which resembles an impact. That would also explain the extreme depth that is yet to be discovered.
Aborigines of the day refused to go near the lagoon, and many people had drowned while swimming in the waterhole.
Late in 2001, Mr. and Mrs. Savage were approached by people 'out of the blue' one day, making an offer to purchase the property. The Savages', who always claimed the house would 'never' be for sale, refused. Then an amount was then offered that in their words "Nobody could ever refuse". Within weeks, the savages were gone and the neighbors tell us that the house is rarely used.]
Now for the story:
The Bunyip - or something like it. So many stories, credible and incredible, have lately been told of the appearance of the so-called "Bunyip," that the subject has become rather a delicate one to touch upon; but the following particulars concerning an aquatic monster seen about a fortnight ago on the station of T.L.M. Prior, Esq., J.P., at the Logan River, may be relied on, as coming from a persons entitled to the fullest credit. It appears that a lady, a member of Mr. Prior's family, was walking near a large lagoon at the head station, when she observed on the surface of the water a living animal of extra-ordinary shape and dimensions.
The head appeared to be elongated and flattened, like the bill of a Platypus. The body, from the place where it joined the head, about five feet backward, seemed like that of a gigantic eel, being of about the ordinary thickness of a man's body. Beyond this it was of much larger apparent size, having the appearance of being coiled into innumerable folds. Beyond those coils was what seemed to be the tail of the animal, which had somewhat the shape of the tail of a fish, but is described as having a semi-transparent appearance of a bladder. The head, which as small and narrow in proportion to the size of the body, was furnished with what seemed to be two horns, which were quite white. Under the circumstances it was, of course, difficult to judge accurately of the whole length of the animal, but, by comparison with the other objects, it is supposed that the parts visible above the water must have been thirty feet in extent.
The spectator of this strange sight, being naturally somewhat alarmed, made her way to the house, and returned to the spot accompanied by another lady and a servant woman. By this time the greater portion of the monster had disappeared beneath the surface of the water. The tail alone was visible, and sunk soon afterwards. From subsequent inquiries made by Mr. Prior, it appears that this lagoon has a long enjoyed reputation of being the home of a monster answering the above imperfect description, and which is stated to have been seen more than once by men on the station.
It is certain that the Aboriginal natives will not bathe in the lagoon, and that they have evinced much fear of something that they believe to be an inhabitant of the waters. The lagoon is, we are informed, nearly a mile in circumference, and of great depth. Mr. Prior has himself sounded in some parts of it to be the depth of ninety feet, without finding the bottom. There is, therefore, "ample space and verge enough" for more than one of these huge denizens of the still waters to live in retirement. Whatever may be the natural character and attributes of this extraordinary animal, we have hopes of their being shortly made known, for we are informed that a regular crusade is being organized against it, and every preparation made to secure it, if possible, dead or alive. We shall not fail to lat before our readers any further particulars that may be gathered upon this interesting subject.