Preservation of Veteran Fig Tree Townsville Railway Station

During one of my all too brief visits back to North Queensland I was fortunate enough to help plan preservation works for one of three Veteran Weeping Fig Trees in the Heritage precinct of the old Townsville Railway Station. (This older station c1890 is no longer connected to the QR line but remains a popular visiting spot for tourists).



Railway precinct 1910 the figs already providing welcome amenity



The first (c1930) in a very long cycle of cutting to toparise the canopies of the figs (Picture curtesy of JCU Library collection)



Queensland Rail have been historically a huge influence on the development of urban centres throughout regional Queensland, and the architectural form of the Townsville Station facade extended to the formal landscape in front of the building.

The choice of Ficus benjamina ~ weeping figs was not all that surprising except that the stock may have come from Brisbane, it is amusing to conjecture that they may have come from the plants collected by Walter Hill (perhaps one of the most influencial horticulturalists in Queensland through the 1880's).

We know from conversations with older railway employees that the trees were looked after by QR staff for many decades...in fact some pride is expressed about the cutting work carried out with cane knives from step ladders, and within the trees themselves.

Over time cvhanges in asset management has resulted in less regular maintenance for the trees and growth in the canopies has resulted in pronounced elongation of many limbs. This is not in itself a huge problem for such a robust species...except that some ill advised major flush cutting had left stem tissues exposed to expanding dysfunction and decay.

Where large columns of decay in the stem and very elongated limb growth come together this has proved to be a recipe for failure.



Side view of the asymmetrical canopy 2010, failure occuring

 

The origin of the failure in the stem tissues - very large flush cut in the past

When determining what the best course for remediation, due consideration was given to the health and safety the general public together with the huge historical and cultural value that these tree represent for Townsville.

Given the observations of good health and vigour (other than the dysfunction and decay related to the past poor cutting practices) it was felt that if the movement of the failing section of the canopy could be arrested and the growing conditions improved, retention of the entire tree was practical and desirable.

In addition to the works relating to the recent failure these trees were to be hedged as part of the regular (now more regular than in the past) pruning program. Active planning to reduce asymmetry in other trees in the group is being incorporated into that program.

Legal requirement to provide clearance for road traffic will drive reduction on this side as much as any desire to reduce loading of the union with the scaffold limb

Stephen Murphy and Tim Willey from Northern Tree Specialists carried out all the tree works on these trees, it is testiment to the ethos of their company and Queensland Rail that so much effort and resource is being provided to preserve these living reminders of the origins of the city of Townsville.



Installation of the first screw prop



Second and third screw props going in, each engineered to support 8 tonnes



Close up of the saddle of the props



Locking off the screw thread

Following the installation fo the props (which were designed to specifications from a structrural engineer to be capable of supporting 8 tonnes each) the reduction pruning was carried out together with the hedging of the canopies.



Reduction pruning on the road side of the canopy



View of the reduction pruning of the asymmetrical elongation of the canopy



Kerbside view every effort was made to locate the cuts adjacent to nodes within the branches



Footpath view, again knowing the future cycle of pruning cuts were made adjacent to visible nodes

There is no doubt I my opinion that this kind of pruing is amongst the most difficult to perform correctly. The pictures are not perhaps the best to illustrate the careful individual branch by branch selection of cutting points with the intention of locating nodes (growing points) within the branch outside of which the cut is made.

Often people lay claim to having carried out such pruning when really all they have done is 'lop' the tree paying no head to the structure of the branch and the presence of nodes. I think that Northern Tree Specialists have done a really good job in achieving the outcome visible in the canopy of the pruned tree.

It is hoped that future hedging cycles will encourage the growth and maintenance of foliage over the areas currently showing bare branches.

A video of the tree its problems and the installation of the props can be viewed on our video channel Preservation works on Veteran Fig Tree Townsville Railway Station

 

The complete topiary pruning of the three trees.

Condong White Fig, revisited.

Its been almost ayear since I posted about the very accomodating Angie near the sugar mill at Condong Veteran fig tree at Condong (right click and select open in new window). Well after a lovely morning spent walking through the Brunswick Heads Nature Reserve hunting orchids I was driving past this beautiful Ficus yet again. I put a short video together during this visit; Condong White Fig (right click and select open in new window).

I cannot convey just how much in awe I am of figs of this age, they truely are magnificent...amazingly Angie is really only a medium sized specimen.

This year her new leaves were without the heavy sooty mould and insect pests that have been so evident on other visits.

The very bad, and wild  weather we have been having recently had resulted in the failure of a small live limb (100mm diameter) from the upper canopy which was lying on the ground and another which although twisted around 270 degrees was still attached in the canopy.

Doubtless largely due to the very free draining aluvial soils beneath her, there are no surface growing buttresses visible on Angie...so common with larger older figs of this species when grown on less favourable soil conditions.

The impact of the aluvial soils on healthy root growth is something that is in her favour, sadly the proximity of the road is not, and I fear that the consequences of more recent road widening will significantly impact on the Angie's longevity.

It is heartening to note as I did nearly a year ago that Tweed Shire have recognised the importance of this inspiring veteran tree.

She would (IMO) still benefit hugely from a mulch layer being applied over the grass area (out as far as possible)

Lone Pine, Australian War Memorial Canberra

Back in late 2008 a nasty storm tore off a large lower scaffold limb from the Lone Pine at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra our national capital.

The ensuing media reports alarmed a number of us greatly...all talk of lopping, drilling draining branch unions and installing rain covers over hollows etc...

So disturbing were these reports that an email was sent by me on behalf of the VTG to the Director of the AWM Steve Gower AO AO (Mil) (Retd). Until a fortnight ago I had not actually visited the AWM nor the Lone Pine tree.

Here are some pictures from that visit.

The approach to the main museum building

Northern profile of the Lone Pine (Pinus halepensis)

Western profile showing the injury and the remedial mulch circle covering the ground out to the tree's dripline.

Southern profile

The tree looks better tha any Pinus halepensis I have visited in Queensland, the soil remediation work through spreading aged woodchip is really pleasing to see. The Arboricultural and Horticultural staff shold be proud of their work following the storm damage, and I truely thank them for their efforts. Perhaps just moving the fence out to the edge of the mulch circle would be advisable to stop visitors (passionate Arbs and Vet tree hunters) trampling the root plate.

 I think some of the angles of the previous photos give the impression that the tree is entirely isolated...this is not the case (despite its name....Lone Pine!).

It is great that the Lone Pine does have a group of succession plantings adjacent to it....we should never forget just how important long term planning is and in this regard, how important succession planting will be to ensuring that generations into the future can enjoy the benefits of the significant trees we so admire today.

Framed by younger saplings

The Lone Pine to the east (left) of the sculptural memorial to bomber command

Whilst at the AWM I visted most of the outdoor memorials and was heartened to see how many young families and school groups were also visiting there.

The memorial to Simpson and his donkey and the obvious wear on the donkey's head for me reflects modern Australian perspectives on how we feel about our historical symbols...there is a real respect in our communities for the ultimate sacrifice made by service men and women, but it is not abstracted or removed from how we live our lives today.

Simpson and his donkey (flanked by oaks)....by the wear a very very popular memorial statue

Less famous Veteran trees around Springbrook

Some shots of some less famous Veteran Trees to be found around Springbrook National Park....what they lack in fame they make up for in appearance!

This one appears to be sitting on top of a young boy....

The view aloft

Spiralling habitat

Are all the interesting trees twisted?

Might be middle earth...or a druid chapel

Some looking down now to rest those tired neck muscles, some very lovely Cortinarius sp growing in amongst the moss and leaf litter.

A fairly common but nevertheless beautiful little fungi is Coprinellus disseminatus ~ the fairy ink cap, as a saprophyte this hard working little fella is a good indication of the presence of an old stump, or large root in the ground. Interestingly the caps start out being pale cream then change to the lovely soft grey you can see.

Antarctic beech trees of Springbrook ~ Nothofagus moorei

There is something quite spooky about the spot on top Springbrook where these relics of Gondwana live...especially if your visit coincides with the mists drifting in....

However even in the crisp clear light of a cool spring day these trees still manage to mesmerise me, the age of the root crown and lower stems could span out to 2000 years.

Nothofagus moorei ~ Antarctic beech only grow in a few spots in Australia they need the unique environment of a cool temperate rainforest between altitudes of 500m - 1500m, they will even tolerate snowfall....not much of that at Springbrook mind you!

There has been prolonged debate about just how the populations in such isolated spots like Springbrook are managing to reproduce...was it just through suckering (vegetative reproduction) or could they be producing viable seed through sexual reproduction, apparently viable seed production is possible.

Clearly the limtations of their distribution to these very climate specific locations supports the theory that they are remnants from a time when cooler conditions were far more widespread.

Its a bit funny to think of these trees really liking it even cooler when you are up on the top of Springbrook on a windy rainy cold grey day.......

but thats trees for you....even the ancient ones are fickle things!