National Arboretum Canberra
Encyclopedia
The National Arboretum Canberra is an 250 hectares (617.8 acre) arboretum
in Canberra
, the national capital of Australia
, created after the area was burned out as a result of the Christmas 2001 and 2003 Canberra bushfires
: The Himalayan Cedar forest lost about one third of its trees, and the commercial Radiata Pine plantation was burned out, allowing the arboretum to be created.
In 2004, the Government of the Australian Capital Territory
held a nation-wide competition for an arboretum, which was to be part of the recovery from the 2003 bushfires. The winning design proposed 100 forests/gardens focussing on threatened, rare, and symbolic trees from around the world.
The site has been planted since 2005, and includes ceremonial trees planted by visiting heads of government and ambassadors.
. The arboretum is generally in keeping with Griffin's plan for such an arboretum, as expressed by the earlier forests.
A forest of Turkish Pine Pinus brutia , a species native to the Gallipoli Peninsula
in Turkey, has been planted to commemmorate Australian service personnel killed in all conflicts. In addition, a number of ceremonial Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis) have been planted on the summit of Dairy Farmers Hill, propagated from seed of the Lone Pine
tree planted at the Australian War Memorial
. These complement a number of mature specimens of this species already existing on the hill.
The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia, currently in Commonwealth Park
, will be relocated to the arboretum.
Notable plantings include:
region is being established with the long-term objective of create a regional botanic garden, education and ecosystem recovery centre. It will include eucalypt
species from various habitats.
On a hill within and overlooking the arboretum is "wide brown land", spelling out the description of Australia by Dorothea McKellar in her poem My Country
, taken from the original manuscript in McKellar's handwriting. It is approximately 35m in length and 9.5m tall.
On another hill is a found objects artwork depicting an eagle on a nest.
Arboretum
An arboretum in a narrow sense is a collection of trees only. Related collections include a fruticetum , and a viticetum, a collection of vines. More commonly, today, an arboretum is a botanical garden containing living collections of woody plants intended at least partly for scientific study...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, the national capital of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, created after the area was burned out as a result of the Christmas 2001 and 2003 Canberra bushfires
2003 Canberra bushfires
The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory’s pasture, forests and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed...
: The Himalayan Cedar forest lost about one third of its trees, and the commercial Radiata Pine plantation was burned out, allowing the arboretum to be created.
In 2004, the Government of the Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
held a nation-wide competition for an arboretum, which was to be part of the recovery from the 2003 bushfires. The winning design proposed 100 forests/gardens focussing on threatened, rare, and symbolic trees from around the world.
The site has been planted since 2005, and includes ceremonial trees planted by visiting heads of government and ambassadors.
Plantings
The established areas include existing forests of Himalayan Cedar (Cedrus deodara) and Cork Oak (Quercus suber) planted under the guidance of early town planners under general direction from the city's planner, Walter Burley GriffinWalter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
. The arboretum is generally in keeping with Griffin's plan for such an arboretum, as expressed by the earlier forests.
A forest of Turkish Pine Pinus brutia , a species native to the Gallipoli Peninsula
Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula is located in Turkish Thrace , the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles straits to the east. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek "Καλλίπολις" , meaning "Beautiful City"...
in Turkey, has been planted to commemmorate Australian service personnel killed in all conflicts. In addition, a number of ceremonial Aleppo Pines (Pinus halepensis) have been planted on the summit of Dairy Farmers Hill, propagated from seed of the Lone Pine
Lone Pine (tree)
The Lone Pine was the name given to a solitary tree on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey, which marked the site of the Battle of Lone Pine in 1915...
tree planted at the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial
The Australian War Memorial is Australia's national memorial to the members of all its armed forces and supporting organisations who have died or participated in the wars of the Commonwealth of Australia...
. These complement a number of mature specimens of this species already existing on the hill.
The National Bonsai and Penjing Collection of Australia, currently in Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park
Commonwealth Park is in Canberra, Australia, on the north side of Lake Burley Griffin. The annual spring Floriade festival is held in the park...
, will be relocated to the arboretum.
Notable plantings include:
- California fan palm (Washingtonia filiferaWashingtonia filiferaWashingtonia filifera , with the common names California Fan Palm , Desert Fan Palm, Cotton palm, and Arizona Fan Palm. It is a palm native to southwestern North America between an elevation range of , at seeps, desert bajadas, and springs where underground water is continuously available...
) - Chinese tulip tree (Liriodendron chinenseLiriodendron chinenseLiriodendron chinense, the Chinese tulip tree, is Asia's native species in the Liriodendron genus. This native of central and southern China grows in the provinces of Anhui, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Zhejiang, Sichuan and Yunnan, and also locally in northern...
) - Western old white gum (Eucalyptus argophloia)
- Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis)
- Dragon tree (Dracaena dracoDracaena dracoDracaena draco, the Canary Islands Dragon Tree or Drago isa subtropical Dragon Tree native to the Canary Islands, Cape Verde, Madeira, and locally in western Morocco, and introduced to the Azores...
) - famously, 12 were stolen, of which some were recovered - Maidenhair tree (Ginkgo biloba)
- Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrumCercis siliquastrumCercis siliquastrum, commonly known as Judas Tree, is a small deciduous tree from Southern Europe and Western Asia which is noted for its prolific display of deep-pink flowers in spring.-Description:...
) - Giant redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum)
- CamdenCamden, New South Wales-Education:Camden is the location of research facilities for the veterinary and agricultural schools of the University of Sydney. The local government area has two public high schools, Camden High School and Elderslie High School, as well as eight Catholic and three Anglican schools.-Culture:The...
white gum (Eucalyptus benthamiiEucalyptus benthamiiEucalyptus benthamii, commonly known as Camden white gum or Nepean River gum, is a species of Eucalyptus endemic to eastern Australia. It was first described by Joseph Maiden and Richard Hind Cambage in 1915, who named it in honour of George Bentham. It is related to E. viminalis...
) - Chinese rubber tree (Eucommia ulmoides)
- Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
- Monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucanaAraucaria araucanaAraucaria araucana is an evergreen tree growing to tall with a trunk diameter. The tree is native to central and southern Chile, western Argentina and south Brazil. Araucaria araucana is the hardiest species in the conifer genus Araucaria...
) - BunyaBunya, QueenslandBunya is a suburb north-west of Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, Australia. Its local government area is the Moreton Bay Region.Bunya is home to the Bunyaville Forest Reserve, operated by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. Spotted gum, grey ironbark, narrow-leaved ironbark, white...
pine (Araucaria bidwilliiAraucaria bidwilliiAraucaria bidwillii, the Bunya Pine, is a large evergreen coniferous tree in the genus Araucaria, family Araucariaceae. It is native to south-east Queensland with two small disjunct populations in northern Queensland's World Heritage listed Wet Tropics, and many fine old specimens planted in New...
) - Weeping Snow Gum (Eucalyptus lacrimans)
- Wollemi pine (Wollemia nobilis)
- Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifoliusBrachychiton acerifoliusBrachychiton acerifolius, commonly known as the Illawarra Flame Tree, is a large tree of the family Malvaceae native to subtropical regions on the east coast of Australia. It is famous for the bright red bell-shaped flowers that often cover the whole tree when it is leafless...
)
Southern Tablelands Eucalyptus Forest (STEP)
On the edge of the arboretum, within its boundary, a eucalyptus forest representative of remnant and former forests of the Southern TablelandsSouthern Tablelands
The Southern Tablelands is a geographic area of the State of New South Wales, Australia. This area is located west of the Great Dividing Range.The area is characterised by flat country which has generally been extensively cleared and used for grazing purposes...
region is being established with the long-term objective of create a regional botanic garden, education and ecosystem recovery centre. It will include eucalypt
Eucalypt
Eucalypts are woody plants belonging to three closely related genera:Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Angophora.In 1995 new evidence, largely genetic, indicated that some prominent Eucalyptus species were actually more closely related to Angophora than to the other eucalypts; they were split off into the...
species from various habitats.
Public areas
The arboretum will have public viewing areas and a cafe, an open-air stage and amphetheatre, and a non-denominational outdoor chapel.Public art
The arboretum features several pieces of monumental public art.On a hill within and overlooking the arboretum is "wide brown land", spelling out the description of Australia by Dorothea McKellar in her poem My Country
My Country
"My Country" is an iconic patriotic poem about Australia, written by Dorothea Mackellar at the age of 19 while homesick in England. After travelling through Europe extensively with her father during her teenage years she started writing the poem in London in 1904 and re-wrote it several times...
, taken from the original manuscript in McKellar's handwriting. It is approximately 35m in length and 9.5m tall.
On another hill is a found objects artwork depicting an eagle on a nest.