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Level of Significance

  • File
  • Local
  • Regional
  • State
  • National

Age (approx)

400yrs

Trees

1

Diameter

5m

Height - 73m

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Details

Common name
Mountain Ash
Botanical name
Eucalyptus regnans
Other name
The Kalatha Giant
Type
Individual Tree
Condition
Good
Municipality
Murrindindi (VIC)
Location
cnr Granton Road and Kalatha Creek Road Toolangi VIC 3777
Access
Unrestricted
Significances
  • Outstanding size (Scientific)
  • Other social (Social)
Date of measurement
23 Nov 2013
Date of classification
08 Aug 2016

Statement of Significance

The 'Kalatha Giant' Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) is significant at a State level for its outstanding size and social significance.

History

The 'Kalatha Giant' is a very large Eucalyptus regnans approximately 400 years old. It is currently one of the largest living trees in Victoria. It bears a very old fire scar at its heavily buttressed base (possibly from fires in 1851) and is hollow all the way up its trunk to where the top is broken off. Nevertheless, it is in good health for its age. It is in an area of Toolangi State Forest that has a history of selective logging in the early twentieth century, and there has been more recent clear felling of coupes in the surrounding area. Two-thirds of the State Forest was burned in the 2009 Black Saturday Fires and the 'Kalatha Giant' is in a tiny area that survived unburnt. During the bushfire recovery after Black Saturday, the Toolangi & Castella District Community House (supported by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund) built a walking trail to tell the story of the Kalatha Giant and the forest in which it grows, with a boardwalk around the tree to protect the soil from increasing numbers of visitors. For many, it has become a symbol of bushfire resilience.