March Outing Report - parks in North Toowoomba 14 March 2025

 Adapted from the TFNC April 2025 newsletter report of B. Gundry.

TRC Parks of North Toowoomba

McKenzie St Lookout, Toowoomba

This outing had been rescheduled courtesy of the much vaunted Cyclone Alfred. The Field Nats assembled at Horn Park on a fine dewy morning, heralding a warm day to follow. Others joined in as the morning progressed. (Dr. Alex Horn had donated this land to Council in the early 20th Century.) Our attention was first drawn to 6 to 7 Black Kites Milvus migrans, just soaring above the trees adjacent to the Bridge Clubhouse. We could ascertain no reason for this aggregation, other than that they were also enjoying their early autumnal morning ….

Our second stop was at the end of Henry Street to visit a huge Moreton Bay Fig just inside the former Rifle Range Reserve. This tree was planted by Eric French prior to his enlistment in the AIF in 1916. He survived the war but lived the rest of his life as a dentist in Brisbane. I was surprised that it was such a huge tree for its 110 years.

Hoop Pine
Araucaria cunninghamii
at Boyce Gardens

Our morning tea break was at Woodward Park in Alfred Street, followed the top of North Street, a newly renovated park, Bunya Park on the corner of Geoffrey and Mackenzie Streets …. The name was inspired by the Bunya pines planted by Duncan Munro who developed the property in the 1880s. The park now showcases pines in the Araucariaceae family; the Bunya Pine Araucaria bidwilli, the Hoop Pine Araucaria cunninghamii and the Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla, as well as several other pines.

A drive to the very northern end of Mackenzie Street brought us to the eastern edge of the
range where the waterfall from the end of Rifle Range Road was still trickling after the recent rain ….

Lunch was relished in the shady gardens overlooking the original pool and water feature of Boyce Gardens. Not everyone took the rainforest walk, but with the recent UQ and Boyce Trust upgrade with historical markers, it concluded a warm sunny day enjoyed by all.

All photos: B. Weller