A popular recreation spot, especially for climbing and running, they are conveniently close to the city and the South Bank Parklands.

The cliffs were formed after stone was quarried from the site and used in the construction of a number of local structures in the Moreton Bay penal settlement.

[2] These lavas and pyroclastic rocks were deposited in the Triassic Period about 230 million years ago and filled an ancient river valley.

[3] Records indicate that it was Captain Patrick Logan, commandant of the Moreton Bay penal settlement, who first opened a quarry to supply stone to his building works as early as 1826.

The Rector of St Mary's Church above the quarry believed this was a wasteful use of the stone and convinced the Queensland Colonial Government to take over control, which it did in 1864.

[3] The cliffs are situated on the east bank of the river north of the Maritime Museum and opposite the Queensland University of Technology.