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 Queens 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. The area that is now Queen’s Park and the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens (26.3 ha) was gazetted as a public reserve in 1869 and the Botanic Gardens were established in the 1870s as a place for botanic research and as a regional adjunct to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens (established in 1855). The then Mayor William Groom obtained £500 from the colonial government in 1874 to establish the botanic gardens. Walter Hill assisted with its designing and planning. Many of the trees planted in Queen's Park were imported by him from throughout the world. The far sightedness and work of the early planners has provided Toowoomba with a wonderful green area close to the centre of the city. The young trees planted in 1875 now form broad avenues of mature shady trees throughout the park. Queen's Park, and its superb floral presentations and leafy environment, are one of the central features of Toowoomba’s Spring Carnival of Flowers, an annual event held in September each year. This is a fine tree, still growing strongly. The species is well known as being among the tallest and largest tree species in the world but this tree is unlikely ever to reach a great height due to our unsuitable climate and soil. This tree is valued by the community.
Date, person and occasion when planted: 1934; Curator and staff of the Toowoomba Botanic Gardens.

The tree is of horticultural value as there are few examples of the species in the area. Its context is unique as this is the only one known of in a public park in Toowoomba. It is growing well, although the climate does not appear to be very suitable for this species. The tree makes a significant contribution to the landscape of these historic gardens. It is a great looking tree and is a better than an average example of its species in its particular location.

It is located in a central position in the gardens.