details

Statement of Significance

The rich, fertile soil, temperate climate and the interest of many of its citizens in things botanical, has resulted in 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. Samuel Stephens (a Toowoomba businessman and major public benefactor) purchased ten acres of house blocks in 1931 and developed it into planted parkland. He donated it to the citizens of Toowoomba in 1934. Whilst developing the park, Stephens had an interest in plants from south-east Asia and imported plants from Japan, China and the rest of the region. It is a multi-trunked tree from near the ground, with seven main trunks. It was planted by Samuel Stephens after he purchased ten acres of house blocks and developed them into parkland which he then gave to the citizens of Toowoomba.
It has significant horticultural value. It is an important source of seed or propagating stock, as it sets seed, and could be used as a seed source if the seeds are fertile. It makes a significant contribution to the landscape of this historic park and has a contemporary association with a community which values Toowoomba's many parks and gardens. This tree provides shade in summer in the centre of this very popular central park. It is associated with an important person, Samuel Stephens, who founded the park and donated it to the city.
This is a good looking, multi-trunked tree.
The tree is located south-east by east from the park hall and to the east of the central north-south roadway.