Council honours Dr John Swarbrick’s legacy – Toowoomba Chronicle, 17 June 2026

Section of Prince Henry Drive to be named after past member, John Swarbrick

Adapted from the published article on 17 June 2026 – Toowoomba Chronicle

Dr John Swarbrick’s legacy will be permanently recognised with Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) approving the naming of a section of Prince Henry Drive Park in his honour.

TRC Parks and Recreation Services spokesperson Cr Tim McMahon said the decision was made to recognise a respected local environmental advocate whose work had made a lasting impact on the Region’s escarpment parks. “Dr John Swarbrick devoted decades to the protection and restoration of some of our Region’s most valued natural areas and this naming recognises his outstanding legacy,” Cr McMahon said. “His leadership in weed management, bushland restoration and community volunteerism has helped shape the ongoing care of our escarpment parks and Council is pleased to honour that contribution.” The naming follows an official submission lodged on behalf of Friends of Escarpment Parks, the community group Dr Swarbrick founded in 1994. 

His work in the Toowoomba Region began at Spring Bluff before extending to the Prince Henry Drive escarpment, J E Duggan Park and Echo Valley. The newly named park area has been identified as a fitting tribute to Dr Swarbrick, as it was the first location where he undertook significant weed management work after completing his work at Spring Bluff.

June 2026 Outing Report - Kearney south and upper reach of Hodgson Creek, Toowoomba

 Adapted from the TFNC newsletter article by P. Swift

Box Mistletoe
Amyema miquelii 
with fruits 
Photo: L. Marlatt

Our outing started at the end of Kearney Street, beside a large water retention basin. A planting of Grevillea ‘Honey Gem’ plants set the scene with birds including brown honeyeater, noisy miner, rainbow lorikeet and eastern spinebill all taking advantage of the abundant blooms.  

We were given an informative briefing surrounding the naming of the local streets and park. Carly Hibberd Park was named after a local cyclist, killed at 26 years old in Italy in 2011, whilst training for professional cycling events. Many of the streets in the local area are named after famous cyclists. 

Our morning walk took 11 enthusiasts along Kearney Street, looking at the plantings by Toowoomba Regional Council.  Some of the more notable species planted, including deep yellow wood Rhodosphaera rhodanthema, a lovely spreading tree, with bunches of brown seeds hanging like grapes through the branches.  Street plantings of Cupaniopsis anacardioides, a coastal native were evident in some areas. Although native, it can become a local bushland weed.  Another plant of concern, African olives were also prevalent in the plantings.  

To the rear of the park, we observed a magnificent stand of eucalyptus trees, many with hollows. Some of the notable species included Angophora floribunda, monkey rope vine Parsonsia straminea, and white cedar Melia azedarach.  

Measures taken manage 

the flow and velocity  of storm water 

into Hodgson Creek

Photo: M. Simmons

Over morning tea, the nearby water management chute was discussed, we were shown an example of basalt displaying crystals of olivine. Olivine is formed in the earth’s mantle and is forced to the surface during volcanic eruptions.  The Kearney Street Chute Betterment project is used to slow the water and avoid erosion from water runoff from the housing estates nearby. The result was an amazing feat of engineering. The scope of works covered a 260-metre steep stretch of open drain, with a 46-metre vertical drop at an 18% incline. Construction involved placing approximately 2,700m³ of rock material and around 180 rock-filled gabion baskets within the chute and then tying the materials into the existing channel.

Venturing around the drainage basin, we moved along the edge of the scrub, noting the extensive weed infestations of tree pear, lantana and privet. There were also lovely specimens of Eucalyptus tereticornis ssp tereticornis, side by side with Eucalyptus tereticornis spp basaltica. Trish was on hand to explain the differences between the two.  We emerged at a large slope covered in geofabric and planted with lomandra. From there, we made our way across to a rehabilitation area, planted out to eucalyptus species. Some of the mature species in the area included Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia and Eucalyptus crebra. The ground was alive with Superb Fairy wrens, which added to the peaceful scene.  

Chute information from https://www.tr.qld.gov.au/Council/News-and-public-notices/Media-releases/Kearney-Street-Chute-Upgrade-improves-flood-resilience-as-part-of-Betterment-Program

Bird list – Upper Hodgson Creek. 07 June 2026.   compiled from members' observations.

Australian Wood Duck, Spotted Dove, Egret sp., Masked Lapwing, Galah, Rainbow Lorikeet, Pale-headed Rosella, Superb Fairy-wren, Eastern Spinebill, Lewins Honeyeater, Brown Honeyeater, Little Friarbird, Blue-faced Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, Eastern Whipbird, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Pied Butcherbird, Australian Magpie, Pied Currawong, Torresian Crow, Willie Wagtail, Magpie-lark, Red-browed Finch.

November Outing Report - Glen Lomond Conservation Park, 03 November 2024

Hell Hole Falls with columnar basalt. 

Adapted from the TFNC December newsletter reports of M. Compton and B. Gundry

Our outing was a special day, one seemingly suspended in a kind of dreamtime. It was a glorious spring day in which to have an almost “Hanging Rock” timeless experience in Glen Lomond Conservation Park at the southern end of the escarpment.

We are all used to the indications of serious volcanic activity in the Toowoomba vicinity, especially obviously so with the flat-topped cone of Tabletop. But how about the other way round - a reverse cone down into the earth? For our November excursion we visited the very impressive mouth of a volcano in this park at the south-east corner of the eastern range. Here, we stood at the edge of this geological phenomenon and gazed deep into the funnel created when the boiling magma blew out of the depths and into the air. Giant basalt columns line the sides of the mouth, while a modest creek has cut a “V” in one side, trickling over as Hell Hole Creek and making its way to join Flagstone Creek. The ancient history of the area is palpable, and its impressive grandeur makes a great impact. 

Close by is an open area of grassland about the size of a cricket ground, with shelter sheds. Of course, the field nats set themselves up very comfortably in one of these and proceeded to enjoy the day “spaced out” in a naturalist kind of way. 

Some members set off for the walk to a waterfall deep within the park, returning with enthusiastic reports of the experience, but saying quite honestly that it wasn’t an easy walk. 

The “falls” occurred over exposed, hexagonal columnar basalt and the scatter of rocks of the plunge pool were likewise of basalt, but there was some softer material which initially was thought of a type of tuff. On further investigation it was a mass of matted biotic materials. Where there is water, there will be a living response. Here, plants, living and dead, clung to the moist basalt, creating a matted vegetative layer, in places only half a centimetre thick, but the more central masses may have been 10-20 centimetres thick. The entire mass was about 5-6 metres high at the apex and about three metres wide across the base. The entire moist biotic mass may have weighed over 1 tonne and looked something less than stable.

Meanwhile others, in the wont of Natters, scattered into the area adjacent to the shelter shed to enjoy their naturalizing.

Species List; Glen Lomond Park, Middle Ridge, Toowoomba (compiled by R. Hobson from members' observations)
Birds: Australian Brush-turkey, Wonga Pigeon, Crested Pigeon, Eastern Great Egret x 1 (overhead), Dollarbird, Peregrine Falcon x 1 (dead), Little Corella, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Rainbow Lorikeet, Scaly-breasted Lorikeet, Satin Bowerbird, White-throated Treecreeper, Superb Fairy-wren, Noisy Friarbird, Brown Honeyeater, Lewin’s Honeyeater, Noisy Miner, White-browed Scrubwren, Striated Thornbill, Black-faced Cuckoo-shrike, Common Cicadabird, Rufous Whistler, Grey Shrike-thrush, Eastern Whipbird, Pied Currawong, Australian Magpie, Spangled Drongo, Torresian Crow, Leaden Flycatcher, Eastern Yellow Robin, Mistletoebird, Silvereye Amphibians: Common Green Treefrog Litoria caerulea Reptiles (lizards): Scute-snouted Calyptotis Calyptotis scutirostrum, Lace Monitor Varanus varius Dragonflies and Damselflies: Australian Emperor Anax papuensis, Australian Emerald Hemicordulia australiae; Blue Skimmer Orthetrum caledonicum Grasshoppers and Crickets: Hedge Grasshopper Valanga irregularis, Field Cricket Teleogryllus commodus Cicadas: Black Tree Ticker Cicada Birrima varians Butterflies and Moths: Orchard Swallowtail Papilio a. aegeus, Chequered Swallowtail Papilio demoleus sthenelus, Dainty Swallowtail Papilio anactus, White Migrant Catopsilia pyranthe crokera, Yellow Migrant Catopsilia g. gorgophone, Caper White Belenois java teutonia, Scarlet Jezebel Delias a. argenthona, Lesser Wanderer Danaus petilia, Monarch Danaus plexippus, Common Crow Euploea corinna, Glasswing Acraea a. andromacha, Meadow Argus Junonia v. villida, Tailed Emperor Charaxes s. sempronius, Grey Ringlet Hypocysta pseudirius, Common Grass-blue Zizina otis labradus Beetles: a small green beetle Diphucephala sp. (very common esp. on Soap Tree Alphitonia excelsa) Ants: Giant Bull Ant Myrmecia gulosa, Green-head Ant Rhytidoponera metallica, Daemel’s Spiny Ant Polyrhachis daemeli, Southern Meat Ant Iridomyrmex purpureus