Quercus robur

What is significant?

The 14 English Oaks (Quercus robur) are a commemorative planting for the 1956 Olympic Games. When the British Olympic team attended the Olympic Games in 1956, they brought a gift of English acorns for the City of Melbourne. The acorns were planted to form a memorial avenue on Brunton Avenue.

There are 14 trees in a row running east west along the northern side of Brunton Avenue including three Quercus canariensis (Algerian Oak). 1 is the easterly most tree; and trees 2 and 5 are located heading to the west.

The trees make a significant contribution to the landscape as a cultural group.

How is it significant?

The 14 English Oaks (Quercus robur) are significant as a commemorative planting for the 1956 Olympic Games at the Regional level.

Why is it significant?

Like Avenues of Honour we still choose to commemorate important cultural social and historic events by the planting of trees. This row of oaks is planted in a single row as a memorial avenue along the northern edge of Brunton Avenue and extends from the western side of the Melbourne Cricket Ground almost to the western corner of Yarra Park where it meets Jolimont Road. Although claimed to be English oaks (Quercus robur) on the plaque, there are also three Algerian oaks (Quercus canariensis) near the footbridge. These may be replacement plantings made soon after the initial planting, as they appear to be of similar age to the other trees.

When the British Olympic team attended the Olympic Games in 1956, they brought a gift of English acorns for the City of Melbourne. The acorns were planted to form a memorial avenue on Brunton Avenue. In 1959, the City Architects Office designed a plaque and granite base to commemorate the event. A plaque fixed to the top surface reads, 'The English oaks presented to the City by British Industrialists and especially brought to Melbourne by the competing British team were planted on this site to commemorate the Olympic Games of 1956'. The memorial is in good condition (Source: John Patrick's Yarra Park Conservation Analysis, 2001, pp.22, 44).

EXTENT:

Number of trees (if more than one): 14 (tree 1 closest to the city)

Access: Unrestricted

Measurements: 22/02/2010

Tree 8 measured, see attached plan
Height (m): 12.25
Canopy Spread (m): N-S 17.3m, E-W 15m
Girth (m): 2.13m
Estimated Age (yrs): 54
Condition: Good

Access: Unrestricted
Classified: 2010

Group

Parks, Gardens and Trees

Category

Tree