Australian Government’s Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program
In 2022 Clunes Landcare and Waterways Group was a recipient of funding from the Australian Government’s Planting Trees for The Queen’s Jubilee Program.
Queen’s Park in Ligar Street was established in the 1870’s and was one of 20 regional botanical gardens. In 1887 the fountain was erected to celebrate Queen Victoria’s 50th Jubilee. In 2020 Hepburn Shire ran a Community Consultation to develop new plans for the redevelopment of the Park. The 2022 Program celebrates Her Majesty, The Queen’s 70th Jubilee, a milestone unlikely to be seen again.
The tree plantings have been designed to enhance and continue the original design of the area where various exotic specimen trees were planted. In keeping with the existing planting we have planted some exotics, and introduced native species as we consider these to be most likely to survive and thrive in a changing climate.
The tress chosen were:
3 x Quercus rubra – Red Oak
2 x Zelkova serrata Green Vase – Japanese Elm
2 x Lagerstroemia indica fauriei Tuscarora – Crepe Myrtle (Hot pink)
1 x Quercus robur – European Oak
4 x Pyrus calleryana Aristocrat – Ornamental Pear
2 x Eucalyptus leucoxylon Rosea – Red Flowering Red Gum
1 x Fraxinus pennsylvanica Cimmaron – Cinnamon Ash
3 x Lagerstroemia indica fauriei Natchez – Crepe Myrtle (White)
1 x Araucaria heterophylla – Norfolk Island Pine
In early August a team from BRI Ballarat constructed very sturdy tree guards and undertook the planting. They very quickly discovered that the park had been established over a bed of quartz but muscle power prevailed and over 2 days all the trees were planted.
In October 2022, after an exceptionally wet winter and early Spring the park was inundated with flood water from the Creswick Creek. Luckily the water subsided quite quickly and the only damage was a loss of mulch, which was quickly replaced by Hepburn Shire Council.
On Saturday November 5 a Picnic In the Park Commemoration Event was held to officially acknowledge and thank Her Majesty, The Queen, and the Commonwealth Government. Guest speakers were the Honourable Catherine King, MP and Hepburn Shire Mayor, Tim Drylie.
For more information about the history of Queen’s Park and the Pinetum please visit the Clunes Museum website https://clunesmuseum.org.au/visiting-clunes/queens-park/.
For more information about how you can become a valued volunteer contact us at cluneslandcare@gmail.com
We acknowledge the Dja Dja Wurrung as the traditional
custodians of these lands and waterways.
Clunes Landcare and Waterways Group 