What's in a Name?

Why are we the “Fassifern Field Naturalist Club”?

Today the areas of Fassifern and the Fassifern Valley are rural localities in the Scenic Rim Regional Council area and are situated to the west of Boonah Township. However, in 1841-42 John Cameron took up the ‘Fassifern Run’ in the Moreton pastoral district. In 1869 the Fassifern run was amalgamated with ‘Moogerah’ and ‘Tarome’ runs as the consolidated ‘Fassifern run’.

The amalgamated Fassifern station covered the area south of Flinders Peak between the Main Range and Teviot Range. An area of approximately 138 300 acres or almost 56 000 ha in size (see map 1). Was this a factor in naming the Club?

Map 1 (click to enlarge)

The Fassifern Scrub (also known as Boonah scrub) was a lowland rainforest that covered an area from north of Boonah from approximately the Roadvale area, and extended in the west to Kalbar and Fassifern. In the south the Fassifern scrub extended to Mt Alford and Bunburra and in the east to Milford and Coulson (see map 2). The Fassifern scrub was a dense rainforest rich in trees, shrubs and vines. Remnant Fassifern scrub can still be seen in the district. So, was the club named after the iconic scrub that features in the western area of the Scenic Rim?

Map 2 (click to enlarge)

Discussion with members that were present at the establishment of the club advised that neither of these reasons solely influenced the naming of the club. The broader geographical feature of the area known as the Fassifern Valley, which covers the area from the Main Range in the West to Flinders Peak in the East, and also extends from Tarome in the north to Maroon in the south was what influenced the naming of the club. Obviously the naming of the original pastoral run, the ‘Fassifern run’ to the north of where Boonah stands today has had a significant influence on the naming of features in the area and subsequently the naming of the “Fassifern Field Naturalist Club”.

Our club focuses on this area for its outings and keeps a record of what flora and fauna inhabit or visit our ‘patch’. We also have some excursions and camps further afield to experience what is out in our broader backyard.

Information obtained from:              

The Fassifern Story, C K Pfeffer.
Looking Back Along Fassifern Valley, H Pugsley.
The Boonah Scrub, Tim Low.
Wikipedia.