Tree is not four-letter word to locals in the 2011 postcode area.

Trees provide shade in summer and allow sun to provide winter warmth when they shed their leaves. They are an integral part of our urban landscape and micro-climate.

And Sydney Council has recognised their positive contribution to a healthy living environment through its Register of Significant Trees. A total of 2,674 trees from 157 properties are listed, all selected on the basis of their historical, cultural, social, ecological or outstanding visual and aesthetic appeal.

They range from the monumental Moreton Bay Figs in Kings Cross Fitzroy Gardens  – see image above – to  the over-arching avenue of Golden Rain Trees in Surry Hills and avenues of London Plane trees in Victoria and Macleay Streets, Potts Point originally planted in 1930s.

Council states that “these distinctive and often distinguished trees are part of our urban forest and integral to the environment, culture and heritage of the City of Sydney.”

The purpose of the register is to:

• identify and recognise the importance of significant trees in the landscape
• guide their management
• ensure their protection for future generations.

The listed trees were nominated by the community and assessed by landscape and heritage experts. Each tree in the register meets one, or more, of the classification criteria.

Many of the listed trees are associated with important events, are rare or unusual species, or are simply majestic old specimens.

Each tree has a story to tell.

The large mature Moreton Bay Fig tree at Habitat apartments, 1 McDonald Street is a native evergreen rainforest specimen planted circa 1900. It is  significant with local aesthetic, visual and historic values. This tree’s massive bulk creates a very important buffer between the property’s multi-storey apartment block and surrounding terraces and apartments. It is believed that this tree is a remnant of a former large garden, and was possibly part of the McQuade family estate, which stretched from Wylde Street to Victoria Street between the period 1858 to 1890.

The Mango tree at “Boomerang”, 42 Billyard Avenue, is a magnificent tree. It is part of an eclectic subtropical palette, dominated by exotic palms and retains a strong thematic landscape character in its setting. It is evocative of the Hollywood era and the Mediterranean/Spanish Mission style of southern California. Moreover, the significance of the collection lies in the historic, cultural and social overlays from grand colonial estate to the Hollywood/ Californian influence of the 1920’s.

By Andrew Woodhouse

Heritage Solutions