GSA Guide – Heritage Tree - Brisbane City Botanical Gardens Claimed
URPoint Details
This URP is maintained by members of the Geological Society of Australia as a geo-located community knowledge service.
Heritage Tree: Cook Pine (Araucania columnaris)
The tree is situated near the George Street entrance to the Botanic Gardens close to Queensland Parliament House.
History
In 1868, Queen Victoria’s son, Prince Albert, the Duke of Edinburgh, planted two of a proposed avenue of six Cook Pines in the front of Parliament House.
The avenue was to link Parliament House and the Brisbane River. This tree is the only one of the two which remains, and the avenue was never completed.
The lower branches of this tree have been removed to discourage climbing. It is the tallest tree in the gardens at over 45 metres. This tree is native to New Caledonia.
The tree is an outstanding example of its species due to its age and size. It is an important landmark and of important landscape value, being the tallest tree in the gardens and situated on elevated ground. It is an important part of the historic Gardens, being one of its earliest plantings and commemorates Prince Albert and his visit to Brisbane in 1868.
Statistics:
Age: Approx. 140 years
Diameter: 0.9 metres
Height: 45 metres
#
- Type:
- History, Landmark