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Statement of Significance

The site of Brisbane City Botanic Gardens was selected as a public garden in 1828 by New South Wales Colonial Botanist Charles Fraser three years after the establishment of the European settlement. Originally the garden was planted with food crops to feed the convicts. In 1855, a portion of the land was declared a 'botanic reserve' and Walter Hill was appointed as curator. The Queensland Heritage Register describes the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens as 'the most significant, non-aboriginal cultural landscape in Queensland having a continuous horticultural history since 1828, without any significant loss of land area or change in use over time.' It incorporates Brisbane's most mature gardens and features many rare and unusual species of plants.

These two weeping figs were planted by Walter Hill as part of a group of mature trees in 1868. In 1872 Hill reported to Queensland’s Legislative Council that these trees had 'tended greatly to diminish the appearance of bareness which characterized that portion of the gardens'. Of the weeping figs at the Alice Street entrance he stated, 'the tree in the foregoing list which appears to be most in popular favour for shade and the embellishment of ornamental grounds, is the weeping fig, from Java, which is planted on either side of the main entrance gate (Albert Street). When it attains its full height of a hundred feet, the noble appearance that it will present, will afford proof that it was rightly selected for the position which it occupies.'

These figs, which are of imposing size and majestic appearance, are an important landmark denoting the main entrance to the Gardens. They make a significant contribution to the landscape of the city's centre and have strong associations with Walter Hill, the first curator of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens. They are extremely impressive looking trees.

These two Weeping Figs stand on either side of the Alice Street entrance to the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens.