Back to search results » Back to search page »

HO41 - Aitken's Gap Pine Avenue

Other Names

Calder Freeway, Diggers Rest. , Pine Avenue, The Gap

Location

Calder Freeway DIGGERS REST, Melton Shire

File Number

065

Level

Included in Heritage Overlay

[1/1]
Pine Avenue

Statement of Significance

The plantation of mature Monterey Pines (Pinus radiata) is significant as the most substantial evidence of the existence of the Gap township, which originated as a wayside service centre for gold-rush traffic on the Mt Alexander Road. Recent upgrading of the Calder highway into a freeway has removed most of the south-western side of the avenue, and considerably diminished the aesthetic significance of the plantation. The avenue is likely to have been planted by the Shire of Melton, but may also have associations with the Country Roads Board.

The avenue is historically significant at a LOCAL level (AHC A.4). It is the most substantial remaining evidence of the former gold-rush wayside settlement of The Gap, which declined dramatically after the internationally significant rush to Mount Alexander subsided, and after after the opening of the railway (1859/1862). It is also one of a distinguished series of old conifer plantings on this route, since renamed the Calder Highway, most of which have now been bypassed. It is also the most prominent remaining example of a type of street planting associated with the Shire of Melton.

The avenue is also scientifically (horticulturally) significant at the LOCAL level on account of the age of the trees, which would appear to have been planted sometime in the early twentieth century. It is representative of conifer street plantings which were popular in the 1860-80s, but of which there are now very few examples remaining in Victoria (AHC B.2). If it dates back to the nineteenth century, it would be one of the oldest remaining avenues of this species.

Overall, the remnant Monterey Pine avenue at the Gap is of LOCAL significance.

Group

Parks, Gardens and Trees