Trees

The City of Melbourne has approximately 25,000 native and 25,000 exotic (non-native) trees, in streets and parks around the municipality.

New parks and tree plantings, such as Birrarung Marr, Fishermens Bend and Southbank, use native trees and reflect a trend towards sustainable landscape management.

Royal Park is predominantly a native landscape with all new tree plantings being indigenous species.

Exotic trees are considered an important element of the central city's Victorian character and they will be maintained and strengthened where appropriate. Many main parks and gardens contain superb specimens planted more than 100 years ago.

Significant trees

Royal Park contains two remnant River Red Gum woodland sites, the only remnant sites within the municipality.

Melbourne has some of the most significant mature elm trees in the world after Dutch Elm Disease almost totally destroyed elm populations in the northern hemisphere. Notable examples to appear on the National Trust Significant Tree Register are the:

• avenue plantings of English Elm on Royal Parade
• avenue of London Plane in Carlton Gardens
• English Elm avenue in Fitzroy Gardens
• sole Golden Elm at the intersection of Punt Road and Alexandra Avenue

There are ten native trees listed on the National Trust Significant Tree Register including Aboriginal scar trees that are found in Yarra Park and Fitzroy Gardens.

Lone Pine

The Gallipolli Pine or Lone Pine was planted at the Shrine Reserve in 1933. This tree was grown from seed collected by a soldier, Sgt. Keith Mc Dowell, who picked up a cone from the Lone Pine on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915, a tree that was destroyed in the fighting.

Generations of seedlings have since been grown from the Gallipoli Lone Pine under the direction of Melbourne Legacy’s Commemoration Committee which is responsible for the collection, propagation, presentation and dedication of Lone Pines from the 24th Battalion tree at the Shrine of Remembrance.

If you are interested in further information on Lone Pine Trees please contact Melbourne Legacy on (03) 9663 3564.

Tree management

Tree management in the City of Melbourne is undertaken through an integrated approach that combines planning, contract management and contract implementation.

The development and implementation of long-term strategies that guide short-term activities is the key to ensuring the health and perpetuation of this valuable asset.

Strategies include:

• Long-term park planting plans
• Tree replacement strategies for avenues
• Fig ssyllid strategy
• Dutch Elm disease contingency plan
• Elm leaf beetle project
• Local area tree planting project

For information on these documents, please contact the City of Melbourne on (03) 9658 9658.

Heritage protection for trees

Many features found in Melbourne's parks and gardens are of heritage and historical significance. The City of Melbourne has the responsibility of ensuring that the character and appearance of historic parks, gardens, landscaping, avenues and trees is protected and enhanced.

This is supported by Council's Strategic Statement, City Plan 2010 which which aims to conserve and enhance Melbourne's architectural heritage and character under the theme of 'Attractive City'.

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