Gormans Gap Track
Friends of Gormans Gap Inc. is a not-for-profit volunteer group working with Lockyer Valley Regional Council to protect, restore and improve this special environmental, cultural and community asset. Join our bush regeneration working bees, fauna and flora monitoring, and community events—no experience is necessary.
New volunteers and members are always welcome. Visit our Facebook page for the next working bee and sausage sizzle.
About Gormans Gap Track
Gormans Gap Track was well known to the First Nations peoples and may have been one of the routes used to link up with other groups travelling to the Bunya Gatherings, which occurred once every 2-3 years between December and March.
Settlers sought a pass between Brisbane and the Darling Downs for Bullock Drays – heavy, two wheeled dray 3m long and 2.7m pole for hitching 8-12 bullocks. First Nations leader Moppy sent two of his sons (possibly Multuggerah and Wooinambi) and 2 others from Peel’s Plains to help Lieutenant Owen Gorman and his party find a track over the Great Dividing Range that would suit Bullock Drays.
Bullock dray tracks carved in sandstone rock can still be seen today.
Saturday 17 October 1840 the group with Irish Jaunting Car, made it up the range, through what is now known as Gormans Gap and suggested it would also be suitable for drays.
Environmental Value
Gormans Gap Track is located on the Great Dividing Range and is an important biodiverse wildlife corridor within the Great Eastern Ranges catchment. Diverse range of fauna have been recorded including over 80 species of birds, koalas, echidnas, wallabies, potoroos, gliders, possums, reptiles, butterflies and bandicoots to name a few.
Community Asset
Gormans Gap Track is located on the northern end of Gormans Gap Estate and forms a hiking loop with the National Trail venturing past Preston Manor Café, Preston Peak Winery, RM Williams Reserve and well-equipped Walter Brunner Park with BBQ, toilets and playground.
Why is this project important?
Gormans Gap Track and the surrounding area is suffering from weed infestation of 4 main weeds
Lantana (Lantana camara)
Privet (Ligustrum lucidum)
Green Panic (Panicum maximum)
Prickly Pear (Opuntioid cacti)
These weeds form monocultures, smothering natives that fauna rely on for food and shelter, increase fire hazard and erosion, cause significant irritations to hay fever sufferers and reduces safe access to the track.
Amongst the weed are a diverse range of natives struggling to survive and they need our help.
These weeds can be easily controlled through a community effort and ongoing maintenance to produce a more enjoyable recreational space for hiking, bird watching, koala spotting, spot lighting, taking a moment to ponder the history of the track and photography.
The GGT is now fully navigable with signage highlighting features. Future plans include – additional signage, providing seats throughout the track, educational signs to help understand the diversity of the landscape, flora and fauna guides, historical booklets and native bush food garden.
Would you like to help?
FOGG conduct 10 bush regeneration working bees each year, with monthly monitoring and maintenance.
Equipment and PPE is available for use.
Volunteers are covered by insurance for authorised work.
Morning tea is provided and we often have post working bee sausage sizzle.
For more information and to watch our progress please visit, like and share our Facebook page
Our Activities
Friends of Gormans Gap Inc. brings volunteers together to care for Gormans Gap Track, an important environmental, cultural and community asset in the Lockyer Valley. Everyone is welcome at our working bees and monitoring activities—no experience is necessary.
Bush Regeneration Working Bees
Help control lantana, privet, green panic and prickly pear, which can smother native vegetation, increase fire risk and contribute to erosion. Equipment and PPE are available, and authorised volunteers are covered by insurance.
10 bush regeneration working bees each year, with ongoing monthly monitoring and maintenance. Morning tea is provided.
Fauna and Flora Monitoring
FOGG Inc. regularly monitors the plants and wildlife of Gormans Gap and surrounding areas, helping build knowledge of this biodiverse wildlife corridor.
Recorded wildlife includes more than 100 bird species, along with koalas, echidnas, wallabies, gliders, possums, reptiles, butterflies and bandicoots.
Explore Gormans Gap Track
Enjoy hiking, birdwatching, koala spotting, photography and quiet moments appreciating the track’s natural landscape and history. Gormans Gap Track forms a walking loop with the National Trail and nearby community attractions.
History and Cultural Connections
Gormans Gap was well known to First Nations peoples and may have formed part of routes to the Bunya Gatherings. In 1840, the pass was identified as a route suitable for bullock drays travelling between Brisbane and the Darling Downs.
Remnants of bullock dray tracks carved into sandstone can still be seen today.
Future Track Improvements
FOGG Inc. is planning additional signal, seating, educational signage, flora and fauna guides, historical booklets and a native bush food garden.
These projects will make the track easier to explore while helping visitors understand and value its living environment and heritage.
Help care for Gormans Gap
Join Friends of Gormans Gap Inc. for practical conservation and community action. New volunteers and members are always welcome—no experience is necessary, and equipment, PPE and insurance are provided for authorised work.
Take part in bush regeneration and track maintenance working bees, help with monthly monitoring and maintenance, follow our progress on Facebook or Instagram, or support the track through membership. Membership is $10 per household per year, or $5 for volunteer households when a household member has contributed four or more hours in the previous membership year, subject to available funds.
Questions About FOGG
Find practical information about Friends of Gormans Gap Inc., volunteering, membership and the care of Gormans Gap Track.
Friends of Gormans Gap Inc. (FOGG) is a not-for-profit community group working with Lockyer Valley Regional Council to improve Gormans Gap Track. Volunteers support bush regeneration, fauna and flora monitoring, and the protection of this environmental, cultural and community asset.
The track sits on the Great Dividing Range and forms part of an important wildlife corridor in the Great Eastern Ranges catchment. More than 100 bird species and animals including koalas, echidnas, wallabies, gliders, possums, reptiles and bandicoots have been recorded in the area.
The track also has strong cultural and historical value. It was known to First Nations peoples and includes sandstone marks associated with historic bullock dray travel through the range. Today, it connects with a hiking loop near Preston Manor Café, Preston Peak Winery, RM Williams Reserve and Walter Brunner Park.
FOGG is targeting lantana, privet, green panic and prickly pear. These weeds can form dense monocultures that smother native plants, reduce food and shelter for wildlife, increase fire and erosion risks, irritate hay fever sufferers and make the track less accessible.
Community weed management helps native vegetation recover and supports a safer, more enjoyable place for hiking, bird watching, koala spotting, photography and learning about local history.
New volunteers and members are welcome, and no experience is necessary. FOGG plans 10 working bees each year supported by monthly monitoring and maintenance.
Equipment and personal protective equipment are available for use, and volunteers are covered by insurance while undertaking authorised work. Morning tea is provided Check the FOGG Facebook page for the next event and current details.
Household membership is $10 per year. Volunteer household membership is $5 per year when one or more people in the household have volunteered for four or more hours during the previous membership year, subject to FOGG’s available funds and legal obligations.
Members can have a say in the organisation, strengthen FOGG’s community voice, receive event and learning updates, support practical conservation work and help maintain incorporation and website costs. Complete the FOGG Inc. Membership Form; banking details will be emailed, or you can use the online payment option. Read the FOGG Constitution for the organisation’s governing rules. FOGG serves Gormans Gap, the wider Lockyer Valley, the Great Dividing Range and surrounding regions.
Connect with Friends of Gormans Gap
Tell us how you would like to be involved with Friends of Gormans Gap Inc. Ask about Gormans Gap Track, membership, volunteering, donations or fauna and flora monitoring, and we will get back to you.
Working bee dates can change, so please visit our Facebook page for the latest event information. New volunteers are welcome—no experience is necessary, and equipment and PPE are available for authorised activities.