The town of Mount French includes the mountain of the same name in the western half of the locality, part of which is within the Moogerah Peaks National Park. Elevations in the western half of the locality range from above sea level to at Mount French South Peak and at Mount French North Peak. The western half of the locality is mostly undeveloped bushland. The eastern part of the Mount French is lower, ranging from above sea level, and is predominantly grazing land. Mount French is a watershed with the creeks flowing west of the mountain ultimately flowing into the Bremer River, while the creeks flowing east of the mountain ultimately flow into the Logan River. Mount French Road runs from the Boonah-Rathdowney Road in Boonah and Dugandan to the east through the centre of the locality to the national park and then north to the North Peak.
Mount French School
Mount French Provisional School opened in 1900. On 1 January 1909, it became Mount French State School. It closed circa 1925. The approximate location of the school was. C.L. Watson sent a letter dated 31 July 1899 on behalf of parents in the Dugandan community, to the Secretary for Public Instruction requesting the establishment of a provisional school at Mount French East. Ernest Kirchner donated and transferred 2 acres 0 roods 25 perches subdivision 1 Portion 303 Coochin for the site of the school 1 February 1900. A subsidised Provisional School was approved 17 April 1900 with a subsidy payable of £74-15-6. The following tenders had been submitted for the construction of the school building: Edward Scholz £87-12-6 and Tronc and Sons £93-10-0. The committee was authorized to accept Scholz’s tender. The building was completed 13 October 1900. The following school committee was appointed: Charles Graewe, Edward A Scholz and F William Hemmy 20 February 1901.
First Teacher
The first teacher was Alice Watson wife of C L Watson secretary to the building committee for the Mount French School and a local farmer. She started 19 November 1900. She had taught for ten years as the first assistant at Central Infants Brisbane and was classified Class III Division I.
School committees
The school committee 9 March 1906 consisted of Albert Spletter: treasurer, Henry Falkenhagen: secretary, William Crepin: member and Mr Frank: chairman., school committee consisted of Fredrick William Krause: chairman, Henry Frank: secretary, John Carl Frank: treasurer, with Charles William Fredrick Freiberg and William Crepin being members 21 March 1923.
Break in
In August 1923 children broke into the school and broke the school clock and some set squares belonging to the pupils. Over the years the number of pupils varied. According to the annual returns from 1900 to 1925 the average attendance ranged from 9 to 25.
Teachers
The teachers at the school were:
Alice Watson 1900-1901
Alice Casey 1902-1904
Joseph A Dixon 1905-1907
Michael O’Connor 1908-1910
Nan E Bott 1911-1912
Katherine Dwyer 1913
Hamilton L Bourke 1914-1915
M Ewing 1916
Lorenz A Krebs 1917
L Ewing 1918
Hiltoy 1919-1920
Mary Robb 1922-1924
Annie Mackay 1925
School Closure
The school closed at the end of 1925 with teacher Annie Mackay being reassigned to part time schools at Carlyle and Jandowae East. The school building was moved and relocated to Mount Walker Lower in 1927. The school site was transferred back to Ernest Kirchner 20 March 1928 with certificate of title number 156877.
Demographics
Mount French has a population of 94 at the. The locality contains 53 households, in which 50.0% of the population are males and 50.0% of the population are females with a median age of 54, 16 years above the national average. The average weekly household income is $985, $453 below the national average.
