Level of Significance
- File
- Local
- Regional
- State
- National
Age (approx)
200yrsTrees
2Diameter
1mHeight - 15m
Details
- Remnant (Scientific)
- Outstanding size (Scientific)
- Outstanding species (Scientific)
- Landscape (Social)
- Landmark (Social)
- Contemporary association (Social)
- Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
- Event (Historic)
- Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
- Attractive (Aesthetic)
- Species/Location (Aesthetic)
Statement of Significance
The trees are outstanding for their size and they are outstanding example of their species. They make a significant contribution to landscape and are important landmarks situated prominently high on a knoll on the eastern approach to the centre of the historic park town of Ipswich and its historic Queen’s Park. They have a contemporary association with the community, who value the contribution that they make to the park and the approach to the city. The trees are associated with Allan Cunningham who camped near this location on his expedition to discover a way though the Dividing Range to the Darling Downs to the west of Ipswich, and they are associated with this event. They are very beautiful trees and better than other examples of their species in this location.
History
Ipswich is Queensland’s oldest provincial city and has a rich history. Established in 1827 as a convict out-station for the quarrying of limestone and farming, Ipswich soon became a busy port on the Bremer River and later grew in importance with the development of its coal mines and railways. It is renowned for its architectural, natural and cultural heritage. It was proclaimed as a municipality on 2 March 1860, and became a city in 1904. It was in 1827 that Captain Patrick Logan, accompanied by the well known botanist, Allan Cunningham, explored the Bremer River and they first discovered 'the limestone hills and what was to become the site of the modern City of Ipswich. Allan Cunningham, visited Ipswich several times. In August 1828, he stayed for five days to rest his bullock teams. During this time, he took compass bearings of the distant mountains before setting out on his expedition to find a route to the gap in the ranges. His report states, ‘From a hill in the immediate vicinity of my tents I took the following bearings to points in the south-western country about to be examined: Mount Forbes of Mr Oxley, a remarkable hill, rising from a level country and in shape ridged like the roof of a house, S. 48½° W., about 16 miles; Mountain Gap, S. 38½° perhaps forty miles; Wilson's Peak of Capt. Logan, S. 12° W., 45 or 50 miles; Flinders Peak, S. 19° E_ 12 miles.’
An inscription on a monument close to the trees reads ‘To perpetuate the memory of explorer Allan Cunningham who camped under these fig trees in the year 1828'.
Location
The trees are located close to the central business district, to the south of Limestone Street (travelling west) which runs through Queens Park.