details

Statement of Significance

What is significant?
The Ombu (Phytolacca dioica) was first classified by the National Trust on 11 November 1993 as significant at a Regional level. The original statement reads as follows: The tree is located at the former police station. Surrounded by grass, this specimen is located to the south of the former Police station erected in 1886. The basal section of the trunk is approximately 14m in circumference and is being damaged by mower activity. Removal of Vinca major from beneath tree canopy recommended. The tree exhibits nine small lignotuberous growths at the 0.7m mark but otherwise the tree is in good condition.

It is also listed on the Victorian Heritage Register in association with the former police station: The Ombu tree (Phytolacca dioica) is rare, distinctive in form, and associated with other early police station landscaping in the Colony. (RNE criterion B.1)
The tree was recently inspected by a member of the Significant Tree Committee (April 2012) and it was determined that this tree is an outstanding specimen and worthy of promotion to the State level of significance on the National Trust Register.

How is it significant?
The Ombu (Phytolacca dioica) is an outstanding example of the species and is significant for aesthetic, scientific (rarity) reasons at a State level.

Why is it significant?
The Ombu (Phytolacca dioica) is located on the former Port Albert Police Quarters, built in the 1850s. It is an outstanding and rare example of the species, with an outstanding size and impressive rounded canopy. There were originally seven Ombu trees on the National Trust Register but three have since died, including one, perhaps not coincidentally, on the Eaglehawk Police station allotment, and another in Benalla which was at the time of listing ‘the finest example of the species in Victoria displaying characteristic habit of large swollen trunk’. Therefore, this specimen in Port Albert is now considered the best example in the state.

History

HISTORY OF PLACE

The Ombu (Phytolacca dioica) is located on the former Port Albert Police Quarters, built in the 1850s. Also known as the Immigration Depot.

Heritage Victoria Statement of Significance
Immigration Depot H0498
From the early 1840s when Gippsland first opened up to pastoral settlement labour supply had always been a problem. With relatively rapid development following the Omeo gold rushes, this labour shortage changed in type - pastoralist station hands were not so much in demand, as agricultural workers and single women. The people of the district were more than anxious to welcome the immigrants. A public meeting at the Tarraville court house on 6.1.1857 passed the following motion "that as the only accommodation now existing in the district for immigrants is a rough slab hut destitute of every convenience and comfort, erected some years ago at a cost of 40 pounds, and situated four miles from the port, it is, in the opinion of this meeting, highly desirable that a suitable depot be erected at Port Albert, the place of arrival". (Gippsland Guardian 9.1.1857). The local MLA James Davis, acted on this resolution and in February 1857 tenders were called for building materials for the immigration barracks - 93,000 bricks and 7,500 ft. of blue gum plank 6"x8". Mckenzie & Co. of Port Albert won the tender at three pounds five shillings per 1000 bricks. (Gippsland Guardian 13.1.1857).

While the depot was under construction the flood of immigrants continued and Port Albert received some direct from England. One such group of one hundred and eleven souls arrived at Port Phillip heads on 7.6.1857 per the "black eagle" from Liverpool, they were transferred on the government steam sloop "Victoria" to the Port Albert heads from there they were then transferred to the Port Albert steam navigation company's ship "Oberon" for the last leg of the trip to Port Albert township. Temporary quarters were fitted up in the iron store and two tents (government gazette 18.7.1857). This accommodation was subject to some criticism: "... The iron store at Port Albert ... A more miserable place scarcely exists at this stage of the year - without fire place, wood for fuel and with the sea within a few feet of the building, the immigrants after their transhipment, like so many bales of goods, will be able vividly to depict the comforts of Port Albert". (Government Gazette 24/7/1857).

Three more groups of immigrants arrived at Port Albert before the end of 1857. At this stage it was noted that Henry Charlesworth, an immigrant bricklayer on a wage of 8/- per day wet or dry weather, was employed by Mr. Lowe of Port Albert on building the new immigration depot, wanted a rise of 10/- per day. This would suggest that the immigration depot was not completed until 1858, the year in which no arrivals were recorded. The Gippsland guardian of 10 June 1859 advised that twelve married couples, twenty-eight single females and one single male ("Ex Herald" presumably meaning that he had previously worked on the newspaper) were now awaiting service at the immigration barracks, Palmerston. Between the years 1860 and 1865, twelve separate contingents, being mostly single females, arrived. This contributed to the Sale newspapers report of the "extensive immigration barracks ... which looks more like a convent than anything else - all that is merely required in a temporary building where a few girls and married couples may get a few nights lodging as they will be engaged soon after that." (Gippsland Times 6/11/1863). Only two contingents of immigrants are recorded in local newspapers from 1865 to 1870 so it seems that the immigration barracks at Palmerston became functionally redundant - an official "white elephant".

The building was used intermittently until the 1880s to house government officers from other departments which had sub-barracks in the district. In 1886 when the second building used to house the police officers was built on an adjacent site, it was noted that the former immigration barracks was used as a corn store.

The barracks reflect the importance of imported labour to the development of Gippsland in the mid-nineteenth century. The building illustrates the government role in local development - Palmerston was a government township established in 1857 to break the monopoly control held by the merchants Turnbull bros. over the 180 acres around the port. The building as it stands today is a two roomed brick structure with gable ends. There is no floor or ceiling, the plaster is coming off the walls and the roof is supported by a simple timber truss system.