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Quercus robur

Other Name

English Oak

Location

Henley Road, KANGAROO GROUND VIC 3097 - Property No T12423

File Number

T12423

Level

Regional

Statement of Significance

What is significant?

This English Oak (Quercus robur) grows on the eastern bank of Watsons Creek in Kangaroo Ground. It is in good health and has an exceptional canopy spread.

How is it significant?

This English Oak is significant for scientific and social reasons at the Regional level.

Why is it significant?

This English Oak is of scientific significance for its outstanding canopy spread of 35.3m, the second largest in the Significant Tree Register (the largest is T11655 at Drusilla in Mount Macedon, with a spread of 36.5m).

This specimen is of social significance for its contribution to landscape, exhibiting a striking branch structure and noteworthy shape. Its location is unique, as it is unusual to find an English Oak thriving in amongst hard clay soil in such an isolated area.

Mick Woiwod, Yarra Valley Historian, believes this oak is from the Donaldsons, the first settler family to live in Kangaroo Ground, and related to Donaldson's Oak (T11558). John Donaldson germinated Donaldson's Oak from acorns gathered at The Crown Estate Windsor Great Park, most likely in 1878. However, local records show the area east of Watsons Creek was taken over by a Mr. Stephenson in 1870, and by 1874 he had reputedly been living there for 3 years and had built a 2 room slab hut, stables, fencing and 2 acres of oats and potatoes. It is believed the oak was planting early in his ownership, and Stevenson died in 1878. Further research is required to determine the accuracy of the dates.

The house burnt down in a bushfire in 1914. There is some brickwork near the base of the tree, which may be from the original slab hut.

Condition: Good

Tree Type: Individual

Circumference: 3.97m

Height: 18.5m

Canopy spread: 35.3m

Height method: Other

Circumference method: Instrument

Date of measurement: 25 February 2020

Age of tree: 150 years (planted circa 1870)

Group

Parks, Gardens and Trees