National Arboretum Canberra

Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara) grove, National Arboretum Canberra

The National Arboretum Canberra is an 250 hectares (620 acres) arboretum in Canberra, the national capital of Australia, created after the area was burned out as a result of the Christmas 2001^[1] and 2003 Canberra bushfires^[2]: The Himalayan Cedar forest lost about one third of its trees, and the commercial Radiata Pine plantation was burned out, allowing the arboretum to be created.

In 2004, the Government of the Australian Capital Territory held a nation-wide competition for an arboretum, which was to be part of the recovery from the 2003 bushfires. The winning design proposed 100 forests/gardens focussing on threatened, rare, and symbolic trees from around the world.

The site has been planted since 2005, and includes ceremonial trees planted by visiting heads of government and ambassadors.

Plantings

The established areas include existing forests of Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara) and Cork Oak (Quercus suber)^[3] planted under the guidance of early town planners under general direction from the city's planner, Walter Burley Griffin. The arboretum is generally in keeping with Griffin's plan for such an arboretum, as expressed by the earlier forests.

A forest of Turkish Pine Pinus brutia , a species native to the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, has been planted to commemmorate Australian service personnel killed in all conflicts.^[4] In addition, a number of ceremonial Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis) have been planted on the summit of Dairy Farmers Hill, propagated from seed of the Lone Pine tree planted at the Australian War Memorial.^[5] These complement a number of mature specimens of this species already existing on the hill.^[6]

The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia^[7], currently in Commonwealth Park, will be relocated to the arboretum.

Notable plantings include:

• California fan palm (Washingtonia filifera)
• Chinese tulip tree (Liriodendron chinense)
• Western old white gum (Eucalyptus argophloia)
• Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)
• Dragon tree (Dracaena draco) - famously, 12 were stolen, of which some were recovered^[8][9]
• Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba)
• Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum)
• Giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
• Camden white gum (Eucalyptus benthamii)
• Chinese rubber tree (Eucommia ulmoides)
• Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
• Monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana)
• Bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii)
• Weeping Snow Gum (Eucalyptus lacrimans)
• Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis)
• Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

Southern Tablelands Eucalyptus Forest (STEP)

On the edge of the arboretum, within its boundary, a eucalyptus forest representative of remnant and former forests of the Southern Tablelands region is being established with the long-term objective of create a regional botanic garden, education and ecosystem recovery centre. It will include eucalypt species from various habitats.

Public areas

The arboretum will have public viewing areas and a cafe, an open-air stage and amphetheatre, and a non-denominational outdoor chapel.

Public art

The arboretum features several pieces of monumental public art.

"wide brown land", spelling out the description of Australia by Dorothea McKellar in her poem My Country, based on McKellar's handwriting.

On a hill within and overlooking the arboretum is "wide brown land", spelling out the description of Australia by Dorothea McKellar in her poem My Country, taken from the original manuscript in McKellar's handwriting. It is approximately 35m in length and 9.5m tall.

On another hill is a found objects artwork depicting an eagle on a nest.

Links

• Official website
• Friends of the National Arboretum Canberra
• Souther Tablelands Eucalyptus Forest (STEP) website

See also

• Lindsay Pryor National Arboretum - nearby

References

1. ^ Hansard, ACT Legislative Assembly, 19 February 2002, Ted Quinlan, Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections) (11.13am), accessed 3 October 2010
2. ^ J.C.G. Banks and C.L. Brack (2004): Canberra's International Arboretum: A discussion paper on issues and optionsPDF (4.51 MB)
3. ^ "Glenloch Cork Oak Plantation". Territory and Municipal Services. Archived from the original on July 21, 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080721193100/http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/heritage/heritage_assets/duntroon_wollshed. Retrieved 26 February 2010. 
4. ^ "Forest of Remembrance - RSL/KOC Event". National Arbretum Canberra. http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/events/forest_of_remembrance_-_rsl_event. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
5. ^ "Lone Pine Event". National Arbretum Canberra. http://www.nationalarboretum.act.gov.au/events/lone_pine_event. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
6. ^ Inflorescence -Newsletter of the Southern Highlands Branch. Australian Garden History Society. p. 8. http://www.gardenhistorysociety.org.au/branches/southern_highlands/the_inflorescence_autwint_2010.pdf. Retrieved 7 March 2011. 
7. ^ National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia, accessed 3 October 2010
8. ^ Winter cold threatens stolen dragons, Nino Bucci, Canberra Times, 28 July 2010, accessed 3 October 2010
9. ^ Two males arrested over theft of trees at Arboretum, Australian Federal Police, 29 July 2010, accessed 3 October 2010

Coordinates: 35°17′17″S 149°04′19″E / 35.288°S 149.072°E / -35.288; 149.072