Franke Scrub is one of the remaining small pieces of the original Gowrie Scrub. When white settlers first arrived in the district, this was an extensive area of the dry rainforest type known as semi-evergreen vine thicket, which stretched from Highfields to Kingsthorpe.

At about 1.5ha, it is a small but very good example of the regional ecosystem type RE 12.8.21, Semi-evergreen vine thicket on Cainozoic igneous rock, which is listed as Endangered under the Queensland Vegetation Management Act, 1999.

Beginning in 2001, with a plant list created by ecologist Martin Bennett and John Dearnaley (USQ) our native plant records now stand at 120 species – remarkably high biodiversity for such a small area.

Subsequent seedling surveys have shown that most of these species are reproducing, which is a reassuring indicator of a healthy ecology. A number of Franke Scrub’s tree species are slow growers that could not be replaced in a human lifetime.

The scrub is rich in wildlife. Birds seen there include winter-visiting rose robins, and our little zygocactus mistletoes (Korthalsella rubra) are hosts to Nysa Jezebel butterflies.

In 2006, a volunteer group, the Friends of Franke Scrub, was formed as a result of an initiative by the Crows Nest Shire Council and our foundation members Alison Balke and Don McLean. Since then we worked as an independent group under the aegis at first of the CNSC, and later under the Toowoomba Regional Council, before joining FEP in 2026. Our first task was to clear the Scrub of what was a heavy canopy of climbing asparagus and cats claw, as well as infestations of velvet tree pear and other weeds. The weeding work is ongoing, but we are able to keep the weeds down to the point where native plants can thrive. Some tree planting has also been done.

VOLUNTEERS MEET: on the last Wednesday of every month except December, and work from 8.00 to 10.30am, followed by a friendly chat over morning tea (BYO tucker and chair). If you might be interested in becoming involved, just turn up at the site wearing sensible clobber, insect repellent, sunburn cream and a hat. We provide gloves and tools.

HOW TO FIND US: Franke Scrub is along the gravel road section of Franke Road, Cawdor (behind Highfields). Turn off the New England Highway into Cawdor Road at the traffic lights, left after 1.6k into Cawdor Drive, and right after 1.4k into Franke Rd.