Level of Significance
- File
- Local
- Regional
- State
- National
Age
98yrsTrees
78Diameter
0.6mHeight - 12m
Details
- Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
- Commemorative (Historic)
- Event (Historic)
- Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
Statement of Significance
The York Park North Oak Plantation is at the northern end of a larger area called York Park in Barton, ACT. The plantation has a range of heritage values related to its history and historical associations, potential to yield information, as an example of a plantation, and creative achievement qualities. The plantation is:
• historically important because of its role in the early development of Canberra
• has historical associations with Alexander Bruce and Albert, Duke of York;
• has a moderate level of creative achievement value;
• is also significant for its contribution to the setting of the Parliament House Vista; and
• has some scientific value related to its potential ability to provide information about the growth characteristics of English Oaks.
History
The opening ceremony for the Provisional Parliament House took place late in the morning of Monday 9 May. In the afternoon, in the open area south of the Parliamentary Triangle (called at the time the Review Ground and later re-named York Park), the Duke of York reviewed Australian military forces and witnessed a flypast by the RAAF. There were three tree planting ceremonies undertaken by the Duke and Duchess on 10 May:
• the Duke planted an Atlas Cedar2 at Government House, Yarralumla in the morning before leaving for Parliament House;
• in the morning the Duchess planted a Cricket Bat Willow and a Eucalypt on a site near the corner of Continent Circuit (now National Circuit) and Wellington Avenue (now Canberra Avenue), as the initial plantings for Coppice No. 1; and
• later in the day the Duke planted an English Oak and a Bunya Pine on either side of Federal Avenue (now Kings Avenue) near the corner with Capital Circle (now State Circle), as the initial plantings of Coppice No. 5.
Location
About 1.75 ha, in Barton, comprising that area of Block 2, Section 1, between Windsor Walk, State Circle, Kings Avenue and a line parallel to Kings Avenue 100 metres to the south-south-east (ie extending from the formed kerb on the most southern side of Kings Avenue).
Notes
The opening ceremony for the Provisional Parliament House took place late in the morning of Monday 9 May. In the afternoon, in the open area south of the Parliamentary Triangle (called at the time the Review Ground and later re-named York Park), the Duke of York reviewed Australian military forces and witnessed a flypast by the RAAF. There were three tree planting ceremonies undertaken by the Duke and Duchess on 10 May:
• the Duke planted an Atlas Cedar2 at Government House, Yarralumla in the morning before leaving for Parliament House;
• in the morning the Duchess planted a Cricket Bat Willow and a Eucalypt on a site near the corner of Continent Circuit (now National Circuit) and Wellington Avenue (now Canberra Avenue), as the initial plantings for Coppice No. 1; and
• later in the day the Duke planted an English Oak and a Bunya Pine on either side of Federal Avenue (now Kings Avenue) near the corner with Capital Circle (now State Circle), as the initial plantings of Coppice No. 5.