Level of Significance
- File
- Local
- Regional
- State
- National
Age
?yrsTrees
1Diameter
2mHeight - 24m
Details
Common name
Grey Box
Botanical name
Eucalyptus microcarpa
Other name
Prisoner Tree
Type
Specimen
Condition
Poor
Municipality
Mount Alexander (VIC)
Location
Goldsmith Crescent, Castlemaine VIC 3450
Access
Unrestricted
Significances
- Outstanding size (Scientific)
- Location/Context (Social)
- Landmark (Social)
- Event (Historic)
- Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
Date of measurement
23 Aug 2010
Date of classification
14 Feb 1991
Statement of Significance
Known locally as the 'Prisoner Tree', the tree is believed to have been used by police in the 1850s as a 'standby jail'. Prisoners were attached to a heavy chain around the trunk when the nearby log jail was full. The old courthouse from that period stands adjacent on the eastern side of the road<BR>Eucalyptus microcarpa is a spreading tree which has fibrous grey bark on the trunk and lower branches, but has smooth, grey-brown bark on its upper branches The cream coloured flowers appear from late summer to winter. The species occurs inland from the Great Dividing Range and is found in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and South Australia.<BR>The tree is located on the western side of the road reserve and has been lopped on one side.