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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.
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.
These are only seven palms of this species in Toowoomba. There are six taller and one shorter palm, presumably planted at different dates.
These palms are of horticultural value in this area and are in a unique location or context. They are the only palms of this species in Toowoomba, and out of their climatic and soil type comfort zones.
They make a large contribution to the landscape of the historic park and create an important landmark as an avenue being easily seen from Hill Street. They have contemporary association with the community, as they are recognised by the community as strange and unusual palms. They form an important part of the landscape of a popular park. These palms are a very striking palm of unusual form with thick, erect trunks, pinnate fronds.
The palms are located west of the hall and close to Hill Street.