Level of Significance
- File
- Local
- Regional
- State
- National
Age (approx)
100yrsTrees
7000Diameter
1mHeight - 15m
Details
- Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
- Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
Statement of Significance
Haig Park was the first example of wind break shelter belts within the city to be conserved in perpetuity through an ongoing program of tree replacement, in accordance with leading arboricultural and cultural landscape management. The park is believed to be associated with Charles Weston who played an important role in defining Canberra’s garden city concept.
Weston laid out the massive "shelter break" in fourteen rows using predominantly exotic evergreen and deciduous trees. The majority of the planting was in 1921 when he planted over 7,000 trees. The dominant tree was Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), of which he planted nearly 2,000. Another tree heavily planted was Roman cypress (Cupressus sempervirens 'Stricta'), perhaps reflecting Weston's intentions to pay tribute to the many Australians who had not returned from the war. In western society this latter tree has been traditionally recognised as a symbol of death and immortality.
History
Bounded by Northbourne Avenue, Ormond, Greenway, Masson streets, Turner and Northbourne and Limestone Avenues, Henty and Girraween Streets, Braddon.
Argyle apple, Snow gum, Pin oak, Arizona ash, Roman cypress, Deodar cedar, Monterey pine, Desert ash. (Eucalyptus cinerea, Eucalyptus pauciflora, Quercus palustris, Fraxinus velutina, Cupressus sempervirens ‘stricta’, Cedrus deodara, Pinus radiata, Fraxinus oxycarpa).
Other
Haig Park commenced its life in 1921 as the "East-West Shelter Break", its prime function being to protect from wind and dust the first suburbs in the vicinity of the Civic Centre about to be developed. The National Capital site at this time was bare and windswept - hot winds, cold winds and dust were a significant problem as there was no established parkland. Haig Park would in time serve as a park as well for the nearby first residents of the new city.
The park was named Earl Douglas Haig (1861-1928) who commanded the British Empire Forces during World War I.