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Level of Significance

  • File
  • Local
  • Regional
  • State
  • National

Age (approx)

200yrs

Trees

1

Diameter

1e+01m

Height - 30m

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1/4 images

Details

Common name
White Fig
Botanical name
Ficus virens
Other name
The Cathedral Fig
Type
Individual Tree
Condition
Good
Municipality
Cairns Regional (QLD)
Location
Danbulla State Forest Drive Yungaburra QLD 4884
Access
Unrestricted
Significances
  • Horicultural/Genetic (Scientific)
  • Remnant (Scientific)
  • Outstanding size (Scientific)
  • Outstanding species (Scientific)
  • Landscape (Social)
  • Contemporary association (Social)
  • Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
  • Attractive (Aesthetic)
  • Unusual (Aesthetic)
  • Species/Location (Aesthetic)
Date of measurement
11 Aug 1983
Date of classification
02 Feb 2015

Statement of Significance

The tree is of horticultural value as a result of its curious growth formation and outstanding size and age. It is an outstanding example of its species of remnant native vegetation. It makes a significant contribution to landscape as part of this historic Danbulla State Forest and Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforest. The Cathedral Fig is an important landmark and has contemporary association with the community as a popular north Queensland tourist attraction. It also has the reputation of being the best place to hear an early morning bird 'singing' in the Atherton Tablelands. It is an impressive looking tree, being a better than average example of its species or a tree in its location.

History

The Cathedral Fig Tree is at least 200 years old and is one of the largest of its kind in northeastern Queensland. It is located in Danbulla State Forest on the Atherton Tableland, which covers 12,000 ha between the Tinaroo and Lamb Ranges and borders Lake Tinaroo. The State Forest includes eucalypt and acacia forests, pine plantations and Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforests. The Cathedral Fig is so named because of its roominess inside. Its surrounding boardwalk is so designed so that visitors can circumnavigate the base of the tree and giant buttress roots easily and practically walk inside the tree to look up the towering walls of roots to the very top. The extensive root system of this huge tree has been well protected by the boardwalk which allows close inspection without soil compaction or root damage.

Location

The tree is located about 5 km from the Gillies Highway, off Boar Pocket Road, then Danbulla Forest Drive.