Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve


Gregory's tree (Boab) at Victoria River, in the 1890s
Gregory's tree, 1900

Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory and it is situated within the Judbarra / Gregory National Park and is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north-west of Timber Creek and on the Victoria Highway and is a registered heritage site.[1][2] The reserve is a small one consisting of 2 hectares (4.9 acres).[3]

Gregory's tree itself is a boab tree (Adansonia gregorii) which is sacred to the Ngarinman people; for this reason it is also registered as a sacred site.[1][4][5]

A permanent declaration placing it on the Northern Territory Heritage Register made on 1 March 1995.[6]

History

Gregory's Tree, which the reserve encapsulates, was named for Augustus Charles Gregory when he was the leader of the North Australia Expedition in 1855 - 1856 and it marks an area where he camped. The dates of these camps, 13 October 1855 and 2 July 1856, is inscribed into the tree trunk and where designed to serve as a marker of their expedition; in case they came into trouble.[1][7][8]

The species of tree was also named and first described by Ferdinand von Mueller, the botanist for the expedition, in honour of Gregory.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Gregory's Tree". northernterritory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  2. ^ "Gregory's Tree". Monument Australia. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Judbarra / Gregory National Park and Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve Joint Management Plan". Katherine (N.T.): Parks and Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory. hdl:10070/460833. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Gregorys Tree (Monument)". NT Place Names Register. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Gregory's Tree, Timber Creek". northernterritory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Site Details, Gregory's Tree, 1740 Victoria Hwy, Gregory". NT Heritage Register. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Gregory's marked tree". The Sydney Mail. Vol. LII, no. 1347. New South Wales, Australia. 19 January 1938. p. 23. Retrieved 27 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Explorer's memorial". The West Australian. Vol. XLVII, no. 8, 902. Western Australia. 3 January 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 27 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

15°33′58″S 130°21′58″E / 15.566193°S 130.366158°E / -15.566193; 130.366158