Maldon's Living Treasures
One aspect of Maldon's unique historic value is largely overlooked, that is, the large old eucalypt trees within the town boundaries. By 1854 the population of Maldon was 20,000 and the "ground completely turned up" and "the forests resounded with the blows of a thousand axes" (Blackman & Larkin, 1978, Australia's First Notable Town, Maldon, pg. 66-67). Given that by the end of the gold rush in the 1880s the surrounding landscape was almost completely denuded of trees, it is a miracle that these trees have survived at all. They have been described by field naturalists as "ancient" and "rare examples of pre-European vegetation an urban setting".
Within the Maldon town boundaries. there are more than 100 Box eucalypt trees estimated to be aged between 180 and 650 years - they were already growing in 1852, pre-European settlement. There are at least 30 trees older than 300 years. This is a guide to the location and the estimated age of some of these original indigenous trees.
How did they survive?
These eucalypts would have been mature in 1854, when the site was chosen for the township of Maldon and the establishment of the Government Camp, now encompassing the area of the Bill Woodfull Reserve, Police Station and Primary School. It is believed that Government officials prevented timber from being removed from the Camp area because of the need for shade. In April 1857 the introduction of licenses to cut timber from Crown land and Reserves and also on land surveyed for sale, must also have been an important factor in restraining the removal of the remaining trees
Why are they treasures?
Trees like these are typical of the remnant vegetation of the Goldfields region from the pre-European settlement era, when the natural vegetation was Eucalyptus woodland. The dominant species around the Maldon town area were Yellow Box, Grey Box and Long-leaved Box. It is thought that the past landscape would have included widely-spaced, large, old trees that provide habitat and resources, including a reliable nectar supply and hollows for shelter and breeding, for a wide range of fauna such as bats, possums, sugar gliders, owls, and parrots. They also provide large logs on the ground that serve as habitat for small mammals, reptiles and invertebrates, such as native mice, snakes, frogs and skinks. Eucalypts that contain large hollows are rarely less than 200 years old. Clearing of much of the Box-Ironbark forests (where 61% of the mammal species and 20% of the birds are dependent on hollows for nesting) has resulted in a major loss of old hollow-bearing trees and thus the decline of the species dependent on hollows. Some of these dependent species are now listed as Threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 such as the Swift Parrot, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, Squirrel Glider and Brush-tailed Phascogale. All of the largest trees within the original Government Camp area have multiple hollows and are regularly visited by local fauna.
Estimating Tree Age
Trees can be aged by various methods, including growth ring counts, radio-carbon dating and predictive models based on diameter increment over time. All methods are prone to inaccuracies - tree age calculations are estimates only. Growth rate varies for different species and with environmental conditions. Growth rates for the four Box species in the Bendigo-Castlemaine area were published in 1998 (Department of Natural Resources and Environment Victoria, Box-Ironbark Timber Assessment Project), however, due to potential inaccuracies, average growth rates encompassing all species have since been recommended. An average growth rate of 3.5mm/year has been used to estimate the tree ages reported in this brochure (Box-Ironbark Forests & Woodlands Investigation Final Report, Environment Conservation Council 2001).
Calculation of estimated tree age: trunk circumference in mm at 1.3m above ground level (breast height, BH), divide this by 3.14 to determine diameter at breast height over bark (DBHOB), then divide DBHOB by 3.5 to estimate age in years, which has been rounded to the nearest 5 years.
Eucalypts indigenous to Maldon
Yellow Box, Eucalyptus melliodora, a variable, usually medium-sized tree to 25m, with a spreading crown. Bark is rough, fibrous, dark brown-black at the base. changing to creamy yellow and smooth on the upper trunk and branches. Smaller fine leaves are different to the other eucalypts in the Maldon area. A valuable honey tree. flowering during August to December, and the best nectar producer in Victoria
Grey Box, Eucalyptus microcarpa, a medium-tall-sized tree to 25m, with an open spreading crown and a single trunk that divides into a Y-shape. Finely fissured. grey. fibrous bark on the trunk and larger branches. with smooth bark on the upper branches, distinguishing it from other grey-barked trees, e.g. Long-leaved Box. Flowers during autumn. followed by small fruits, and provides food for the endangered migratory Swift Parrot, which over-winters in Victoria
Red Box, Eucalyptus polyanthemos subsp. vestita. a medium-sized tree to 15-25m, often with a crooked trunk_ Bark fibrous in the Maldon area, persistent to the smaller, but not the smallest, branches. Domed canopy. and is easily identi-fied by the oval or egg-shaped grey-green adult leaves. Flowers during September to January.
Long-leaved (or Bundy) Box, Eucalyptus gonlocalyx, a generally untidy small-medium sized tree to 15m. with a broad open crown. Often has a short trunk which branches widely. Bark is brown or grey, rough and scaly or deeply fissured on trunk, fine on branches. Flowers during autumn to winter, with stalkless buds.
Map of Maldon Living Treasures
(1) Catholic Church
Two Red Box and two Grey Box trees, across from the rear right-hand corner of church, aged between 190 and 435 years, the oldest tree being an impressive Red Box.
(2) Maldon Hospital
* Do not access hospital grounds*
The hospital grounds were marked as a reserve on an 1862 map, which explains the survival of 20 Box trees aged 180-365 years. Although lopped, two excellent examples of Grey Box, 310 and 250 years old, can be seen just past the right-hand (north-west) corner of the S.G. Rewell Building (Day Activities), across the driveway off Adair St. Walk down Chapel St. North to view original trees in the area south of the hospital buildings. including a 295 year old Red Box.. to the south of the new Garden Room.
(3) Harker Street
Red Box on the roadside near the intersection with Reef St, 300 years old, with a younger Red Box next to it.
(4) Penny School land
*on private property*
On the second property downhill from Camp St. (with a timber picket fence), a 430 year old Long-leaved Box to the right of the gate and a 235 year old Grey Box to the left.
(5) Maldon Primary School
* Do not access school grounds during school times*
There are ten Box trees in the school grounds aged 190-435 years. The Yellow Box on right-hand (north) side of main school building is 255 years old. The Grey Box log (on south-west boundary near the police station) would have been 340 years old when cut down due to suspected dry rot.
(6) Police Lockup
*Grounds cannot be accessed. Enter the Bill Woodfull Reserve, walk up concrete path towards the tennis court, and look over the fence*
There are two Grey Box trees in the Police Lockup grounds, behind the current Police Station - one aged 320 years, between the old Lockup and the stables, the other aged 295 years, downhill from the Lockup, near the boundary fence with the Primary School.
(7) Bill Woodfull Reserve
Nearly all of the 15 original Box trees (mostly Grey Box) are over 200 years old, six being more than 300 years old. One Grey Box is 320 years old. The Yellow Box near the netball court, is 535 years old.
(8) Anzac Hill
*Beware of an old brick well near the Grey Box trees*
Long-leaved Box aged over 325 years, on the lower slopes of Anzac Hill (at intersection of High Street and Castlemaine and Newstead Roads). There are two Grey Box trees nearby, aged 355 and 295 years.
(9) Pond Drive
An impressive Grey Box aged 650 years, on the Maldon Historic Reserve area (just past the last house on right). Three other Grey Box trees nearby (two across the road), aged 225 -350 years.
Information by Maldon Urban Landcare group
