Level of Significance
- File
- Local
- Regional
- State
- National
Age (approx)
10yrsTrees
2Diameter
0.2mHeight - 6m
Details
- Horicultural/Genetic (Scientific)
- Seed/Propagation Stock (Scientific)
- Landscape (Social)
- Contemporary association (Social)
- Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
- Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
- Attractive (Aesthetic)
Statement of Significance
The rich, fertile soil, temperate climate and the interest of many of its citizens in things botanical, has resulted in the Toowoomba region’s ability to grow a wide range of indigenous and non-indigenous plants. In 1860, the area was the first to hold an Agricultural Show in Queensland – 15 years before Brisbane. Walter Hill, the then Government Botanist and first curator of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, travelled to Toowoomba to advise with the design and planning of Queen's Park and street plantings in Toowoomba. He subsequently imported many tree species from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world to be planted there. Hill Street in Toowoomba is named in his honour. The town attracts many visitors in September for its famous Carnival of Flowers, where people come from near and far to enjoy Toowoomba’s many parks and gardens.
Peacehaven Botanic Park is a remnant part of the dairy farm previously owned by Stan Kuhl of Highfields, Toowoomba, who gave this area to the Crows Nest Shire Council (now amalgamated into the Toowoomba Regional Council) to preserve it and its remnant native flora and broad scenic vistas as a place of peace and tranquility for future generations. Peacehaven Botanic Park collects and grows nationally and internationally threatened species of plants. This pair of attractive, pyramidal, young, exotic South American pines is an example of a particularly thorny species with very sharp leaf tips and long-persistent leaves. Parana pines are the less well know of the two species of Araucaria from South America. The better known species is the monkey puzzle tree, Araucaria araucana. Parana Pines grow mainly in Brazil and are a threatened species due to logging (the timber is similar to the related hoop pine) and harvesting the edible seeds (c.f. bunya nuts). These plants are in a part of the park devoted to primitive and other conifers. As far as it is known, they are the only Parana Pines in Toowoomba. There are possibly other parana pines in Araucaria collections in the southern states, but this tropical species should grow better in the warmer climate of Toowoomba.
These trees are of horticultural and genetic value and are an important source of seed stock as they are a threatened species and the only ones in Toowoomba. They make a significant contribution to the landscape of this historic park, which was formerly a dairy farm. The park has contemporary association with the community as it provides a peaceful recreational area and has an active Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park voluntary organisation. The park is associated with Stan Kuhl who gave this area to the council for the use of future generations. These are a pair of attractive young trees.
The trees are located in the north-eastern corner close to the fence.
Notes
The Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park Inc. is a voluntary community-based group that strives to achieve Stan Kuhl's vision by working with Toowoomba Regional Council to maintain and develop the park, its trees and other native plants, and its facilities. The Friends raise funds, run a native plant nursery with sales to the public, prioritise the planting of local native plant species and endangered Australian trees and shrubs, run school and community workshops and working bees, and promote the park and its concepts. The crow’s ash tree in the park is an important symbol of the Friends of Peacehaven Botanic Park Inc.