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Brachychiton rupestris

Other Name Queensland Bottle Tree Location 'Bontharambo', 387 Boorhaman Road,, WANGARATTA VIC 3677 - Property No T11213 File Number T11213 Level Regional

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Statement of Significance

Contribution to the landscape
Outstanding size

The Queensland Bottle Tree is endemic to a limited region of Australia; Central Queensland through to northern New South Wales. These are two mature trees display characteristic swollen trunks, and are the largest and oldest known examples in Victoria. Joseph Docker moved his family to the Wangaratta area in 1838, ten years after his arrival in Australia, and took up the 'Bontharambo run' and it is thought the plantings are a result of interests the Dockers had in pastoral properties in Queensland. Unfortunately both trees have hollow trunks and extensive trunk decay, possibly the result of very cold winters and frost damage. Other known examples of the species occur in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Rosalind Park, Mooroopna and Congupna (which is already on the register).
This tree is located at 'Bontharambo', Wangaratta, in parkland north of the house as formal plantings.

Measurements: 08/03/1992
N-W tree:
Spread (m): 16
Girth (m): 8.95
Height (m): 11
Estimated Age (yrs): 120
Condition: Fair

S-E tree:
Spread (m): 10.7
Girth (m): 6.67
Height (m):13.5
Estimated Age (yrs): 120
Condition: Fair

Access: Restricted
Classified: 12/08/1992