Beech Forest - Californian Redwoods
Californian redwoods are noted for their extreme height and are indigenous to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon in the United States.
These redwoods were planted in the Great Otway National Park in the 1930s as part of a softwood logging experiment and the great growing conditions in this area has meant that the trees have already grown to a height of over 60 metres.
Located near the intersection of Binns Road and Horse Paddock Road, Beech Forest.
This text appears on an information board in the area:
Californian Redwoods - Great Otway National Park
Tall Stories
"There are many trees that we regard as having a special significance, whether it is because of height, size, colour, shape or longevity.
Trees can also be significant for mythological, cultural, religious, scientific and historic reasons." Roger Smith
Hyperion - California, USA
The world's tallest living tree recorded to date is a Redwood (a conifer) named Hyperion. Possibly 1000 years old and stands 115.6m tall.
Centurion - Tasmania, Australia
The tallest Australian native tree (and flowering plant) on record is a Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) named Centurion. Possibly 400 years old Centurion stands 110m tall.
1936 - a long way from home
Planted in 1936 this plantation of young 'teenage' Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens) are now more than 82 years old (2019).
A slow start to grow
The Forests Commission of Victoria began experimental planting of softwoods including Redwoods, as part of an expansion program to meet timber demands for housing and other construction.
The Redwood trees grew slowly at first (average 5 metres after 15 years), but as they matured they grew much taller with some tree heights reaching 60 metres at 80 years of age.
A challenging future
Located on a sheltered river terrace where they have access to abundant water from high winter rainfall and summer fogs. These favourable conditions may one day allow these Redwoods to claim the title of tallest trees in the world.
1850s - the working forest
The 1850s was a time of rapid growth for Victoria. The discovery of gold kick-started the demand for land to grow food to feed new populations, and timber for building and energy supply boomed.
A thriving native hardwood sawmilling industry begins and Apollo Bay has the first sawmill start up in 1852.
Within 100 years of discovery of gold nearly all the giant native Mountain Ash trees had been logged in the Otway Ranges.
Many of the native forest giants were felled by hand-held axe and cross-cut saw.
A forest in transition
Native hardwood forest trees were being logged faster than they could grow.
Some giant trees were left by loggers as regal tributes for future generations to enjoy more than one hundred years later.
1948 - refugees camp
Eastern European refugees displaced from their homes and countries after World War II lived here in huts at the edge of the young plantation. These workers were employed in road building and forest tree planting.
Today the forest is part of the Great Otway National Park, conserving and providing outdoor space for more than one million visitors annually.
Many of the walks and visitor areas use historic sites from the early logging days.
Location
The Redwoods Otways, Binns Road, Beech Forest 3237 Map
Web Links
→ Redwoods of the Otway Ranges (Wikipedia)
