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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. This Kauri Pine was planted in 1864 during the time of the Garden’s first curator, Walter Hill. It is the largest and most imposing example of its species in the gardens. The Queensland Kauri was heavily logged in the past, and spectacular trees of prodigious size are much rarer than in pre-European times.
This large imposing tree and excellent example of its species and as a result of its size and central location, makes an important contribution to these historic gardens. The tree is associated with Walter Hill, the garden's first curator, who was responsible for its planting. It is an impressive looking example of this giant species and one of the largest trees in the gardens.
The tree is located about half way along the river path to the west.