Plant Identification walks

PAST EVENT

2024 Join us for the QTPN will host a Survey Training Workshop 

Establishing a plant profile

Key information to collect when conducting a Plant Survey

Useful field-based survey tools

When permits are required

How survey data can be used to conserve threatened plants

Demonstrate survey techniques in the field

Then later in local bushland behind CREEC to practice survey techniques (5min walk).

Morning tea and lunch provided.

BYO Clothing you can wear in the field (including boots).

Water / Hat / Insect repellant / Sunscreen

Clipboard, pen, and GPS (if you have one).

RSVP Paul Donatiu

QTPN Project Manager

0434 258 076

Paul.donatiu@des.qld.gov.au

PAST EVENT

Join us for a fascinating plant walk through Sheep Station Creek Conservation Park, a hidden gem of natural beauty located just 7 km southwest of Caboolture and about 40 km north of Brisbane.

This park, spanning 231 hectares, has been protected since 1977 and serves as a vital refuge for native flora and fauna. Its diverse ecosystems support a wide variety of wildlife, including koalas, arboreal and ground dwelling marsupials, platypus, and the locally threatened greater glider. The park's open forest and grassy areas provide the perfect habitat for these species.

Our walk will take us along the Grey Gum Circuit, a 4.4 km loop that winds through the park’s open forests. Along the way, we’ll explore different vegetation communities, from gum-topped box and narrow-leaved ironbark on the ridges, to spotted gum and pink bloodwood on the slopes, and brush box and forest red gum along the watercourses.

These diverse plant communities are home to an equally rich array of birdlife, including the vulnerable powerful owl as well as other species like the square-tailed kite and crested shrike-tit.

We’ll also have the chance to see some of the park's fascinating cultural heritage, including remnants of the original road from Brisbane to Gympie and an old wooden bridge. These features offer a glimpse into the park's history as a timber and gravel reserve before it became a conservation area.

This walk is a great opportunity to learn more about the plants that thrive in this environment, from wattles and red ash in the mid-story to understory plants like native grasses, grass lilies, and the pink nodding orchid. You'll also discover the role these plants play in supporting local wildlife, contributing to the park's conservation efforts.

Bring your water, sturdy shoes, and a love for nature as we explore this beautiful and ecologically significant reserve!

It is essential that you RSVP for this event via caboolture@npq.org

PAST EVENT

Join the Native Plants of Queensland Caboolture Branch for a plant to explore part of the renowned Sunshine Coast Great Walk. This event will showcase the stunning natural beauty and rich cultural history of the Blackall Range, a landscape shaped by volcanic activity and time.

The Lake Baroon catchment encompasses 7,430 hectares of urban, rural, residential, and agricultural land and is divided into three major sub-catchments: Obi Obi Creek, Bridge Creek, and Walkers Creek.

This area, including Mapleton National Park, forms part of the scenic Blackall Range, a landscape shaped by volcanic activity and water erosion over millions of years.

 Volcanic eruptions, occurring 235 million and 30 million years ago, left behind rich basalt soils that now support warm subtropical rainforests, while tall open forests grow on poorer rhyolitic soils. Waterfalls cascade down the escarpment, roaring in the wet season and becoming gentle trickles in drier months.

The area is renowned for its waterfalls, such as Mapleton Falls and Kondalilla Falls, which cascade spectacularly during the summer rains and gentle trickle in the drier months. Mapleton National Park and other reserves and protected national parks including Kondalilla, protect remnant forests and provide vital wildlife habitats.

This diverse catchment supports a variety of forest types on ancient geological formations:

Its listed as:

• Eucalyptus pilularis Tall Open Forest (RE 12.12.2): Walk through a tall open forest dominated by Eucalyptus pilularis (Blackbutt) on Mesozoic to Proterozoic igneous rocks, especially granite. This forest features a mix of canopy species, including Syncarpia glomulifera (Turpentine), Angophora woodsiana, Eucalyptus microcorys (Tallowwood), and Eucalyptus resinifera. But really you see a lot of Flooded Gum - Eucalyptus grandis and Lophostemon Confertus The shrubby or grassy understorey benefits from regular fires that prevent mesic species from dominating and ensure a diverse plant community.

• Notophyll Vine Forest (RE 12.12.16): Explore lush vine forests characterized by Araucaria bidwillii (Bunya Pine) and Araucaria cunninghamii (Hoop Pine), alongside species like Argyrodendron trifoliolatum (White Booyong) and Backhousia subargentea (Silver Myrtle). These forests thrive on the same igneous rock formations and support a rich biodiversity, including rare and vulnerable frog species.

• Mixed Open Forest (RE 12.12.15): Experience a mixed open forest with a blend of Eucalyptus propinqua, Eucalyptus siderophloia, and Corymbia intermedia. In the absence of fire, the understorey can transition to resemble that of the Notophyll vine forest.

Birdwatchers will be delighted to find The Blackall Range is home to at least 107 bird species, such as the Australasian figbird, which feeds on rainforest fruits. There are also 70 recorded reptile species and 32 species of frogs, including the endangered giant barred frog (Mixophyes iteratus), vulnerable tusked frog (Adelotus brevis), and vulnerable cascade treefrog (Litoria pearsoniana). These animals rely on the clean waterways and natural vegetation corridors to thrive, as habitat clearing has left some species vulnerable to extinction.

Careful land management on surrounding private properties is crucial to preserving the health of these ecosystems.

Reptile and frog enthusiasts can spot 70 reptile species and 32 frog species, including the vulnerable Cascade Treefrog (Litoria pearsoniana) and endangered Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus).

Historical Context:

Historically, the area was also culturally significant. The Kabi Kabi and Wakka Wakka peoples have long revered the Blackall Range, with the Bonyee Festival being a major cultural event where bunya nuts were celebrated. This festival was a significant gathering point for Indigenous communities, highlighting the area’s deep cultural roots. Baroon Pocket, an important meeting place, and saw large gatherings where food, songs, dances, and cultural exchanges occurred. Early European settlers recorded these gatherings, with Tom Petrie attending the Bunya Festival in 1845. Over time, the Blackall Range became a target for pastoralists and timber-getters, with prized trees like red cedar and bunya pine being logged extensively.

The Blackall Range was initially reserved by Governor Gipps in 1842 to protect the bunya pine food source for Indigenous groups. After the reserve status was rescinded, the area was logged for valuable timber in the 1880s, leading to widespread clearing. Despite this, some areas were preserved for recreation and conservation.

In the early 1900s, the area began to attract visitors for its natural beauty. The first park, Kondalilla, was established in 1906 and became a national park in 1945. Mapleton National Park, gazetted in 2014, represents a significant expansion and consolidation of protected areas.

Today, efforts to protect and restore the natural environment continue, with government agencies and community groups working together on conservation initiatives. The endangered Mary River cod, for example, is being monitored under a recovery plan that includes protection from fishing in the Lake Baroon and Obi Obi Creek catchments. In addition, frog habitat monitoring helps ensure the survival of vulnerable species, while maintaining the health of waterways is a priority to support both animal and human well-being.

The Blackall Range remains a vital link between past and present, preserving its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage for future generations.

Experience this rich tapestry of natural and cultural history on our plant walk, and discover the wonders of Baroon Pocket Dam and the surrounding Blackall Range.

It is essential that you RSVP for this event via caboolture@npq.org

PAST EVENT

Join Us for a Native Plant Walk at Mount Elimbah, Glasshouse Mountains National Park! Explore the breathtaking natural beauty of Mount Elimbah, known to the Kabi Kabi people as the place of the grey water snake, Elimbah. This area holds rich historical significance. The name 'Elimbah' was officially given in September 1902

Our walk will take you through a landscape boasting rocky surfaces and eucalyptus woodland adorned with wildflowers.  Whether you're an experienced bushwalker or just starting, Mount Elimbah offers an accessible summit with stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding hinterland. 

Mount Elimbah, also known as The Saddleback, is part of the iconic Glass House Mountains, listed on the Queensland and National Heritage Register.  These peaks are remnants of volcanic activity that occurred approximately 25–27 million years ago. Molten rock filled small vents or intruded as bodies beneath the surface, solidifying into hard rocks—trachyte and rhyolite. Over millions of years, erosion has stripped away the softer sandstone and volcanic cone exteriors, leaving behind the dramatic landscape features we see today.  The Glass House Mountains provide the best example of an eroded central volcano complex in Australia, offering a unique glimpse into the volcanic history of eastern Australia.

The rocky pavements and diverse habitats of the peaks are crucial for biodiversity, housing 20 plant species of conservation significance.  Established as a National Park in 1994 the Glasshouse Mountains National Park is a haven for flora and fauna, with vegetation ranging from gullies to heathlands. The area is home to a rich array of wildlife, including around 170 bird species, koalas, lace monitors, gliders, possums, echidnas, and whip-tailed wallabies.  

It is essential that you RSVP for this event via caboolture@npq.org

PAST EVENT

Join the Native Plants of Queensland Caboolture Branch for a plant identification walk at White Patch, Bribie Island National Park led by Allan Carr writer of A field guide to native plants of Bribie Island and nearby coastal areas of south-east Queensland.

On the day we will be exploring the floristically rich biodiversity of wallum vegetation. This vegetation community has adapted to acidic, low-nutrient sandy soils that are often swampy and are also subject to a range of other specific environmental conditions such as drought, salt spray, flooding and fire. A landscape of extremes has attributed to the unique evolution of flora and fauna here and our wallum vegetation has been flagged as supporting more rare or endangered species than any other habitat. Great examples of such evolutionary modifications are the Carnivorous plants found in these environments! They are also home to several species found and specialised to live in this environment. Some of our only mallee Eucalyptus species are found here that are also endangered.

Wallum, or Coastal Heathland, once extended along the South East Queensland coast from Northern NSW to Rockhampton and adjacent islands but unfortunately been extensively cleared for urban development.

Please RSVP: caboolture@npq.org.au

What to Bring:

 Morning tea or lunch, Chair