details

Statement of Significance

The site of Brisbane City Botanic Gardens was selected as a public garden in 1828 by New South Wales Colonial Botanist Charles Fraser three years after the establishment of the European settlement. Originally the garden was planted with food crops to feed the convicts. In 1855, a portion of the land was declared a 'botanic reserve' and Walter Hill was appointed as curator. The Queensland Heritage Register describes the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens as 'the most significant, non-aboriginal cultural landscape in Queensland having a continuous horticultural history since 1828, without any significant loss of land area or change in use over time.' It incorporates Brisbane's most mature gardens and features many rare and unusual species of plants. This tree was planted between 1864 and 1884. The species was originally described by Victorian state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1859, from a collection from the Brisbane River area. The species is mainly found in the eastern parts of Australia, chiefly in Queensland and New South Wales. This is one of the largest, imposing, native trees in the gardens and was listed on the Australian National Big Tree register in 2009 with a circumference of 2.77 metres, height of 26 metres and crown of 14 metres. The species has very durable hard wood and is used for railway sleepers. This is an outstanding example of its species. It is in an open area of the Gardens and its size renders it a significant part of the historic gardens' landscape. The tree is associated with Walter Hill, the first curator of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, who would have overseen its planting. It is a magnificent example of a native Australian eucalypt.
The tree is located halfway between the George Street fence and the main path leading from the Alice Street entrance. It is close to the palm grove.