Ipswich’s Oldest Tree Has Some Very Long Roots

The tree is believed to be self-sown in around 1550, predating European settlement by 238 years.

Putting the date into perspective, Polish mathematician and astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, had just published a book suggesting that the Earth was not in fact the centre of the universe.

He suggested that Earth is actually orbiting the Sun and the Earth rotates daily, annually and tilts on its axis.

Spain was the superpower in the world and was busy battling the Italians and Mexicans.

Bloody Mary was burning her way through Protestants, long before she became a drink.

Michelangelo was the chief architect of St Peter’s Basilicia in Rome.

And, Ivan the Terrible was Tsar of All the Russias, off busy building an empire.

Back on the banks of a small tributary, now known as Western Creek in Calvert, a tree was beginning to grow.

The scientific name of the tree is Eucalyptus tereticornis; also known commonly as a Forest Red Gum due to the red inner timber, or a Blue Gum due to the colour of the outside of the bark at different times of the year when the trunk produces a bluey-hue colour.

The tree is affectionately known by the Ipswich City Council arbor team as Caesar.

Arboriculture co-ordinator Wendy Collier explains the tree’s significance.

“The tree is the oldest that we are aware of in the entire Ipswich area for any species of tree. It is currently also in second place with the Australian National Register of Big Trees for its age in the Eucalyptus tereticornis category,” she said.

“We felt our ‘big fella’ at Calvert warranted the name Caesar due to being bold, resilient and defiant to the destructive forces of both man and nature.”

Cr David Pahlke said he first stumbled across the tree back in 2013.

“It’s a bit deceptive from the road level, but when you get down the bank to the base of the tree at ground level, that’s when you can really see how big it is.

“I’m not a tree hugger but you have to respect the age. This tree as been here for 20 generations.”

“Now I am looking for a 500-year-old tree, I know there is one out there somewhere,” he said.

Cr David Pahlke organised to have the tree age appraised using a Resistograph machine. He then sent the results off to the National Trust of Australia register.

The National Trust works to protect Australia’s indigenous, natural and historic heritage and has created a national register of significant trees.

Article Property of Ipswich City Council - https://www.ipswichfirst.com.au/ipswichs-oldest-tree-long-roots/