The Victorian Tree of the Year contest raises awareness of the state’s natural heritage, and the benefits trees provide to our culture, our climate, and our way of life.
In 2021, nine trees from the National Trust Significant Tree Register have been shortlisted for this coveted award, with six of the finalists hailing from metro Melbourne and three from regional Victoria, all providing their local communities with serenity and respite.
Simon Ambrose, CEO of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), said the Victorian Tree of the Year is a fantastic opportunity for us to slow down and appreciate the natural wonders that surround us.
“After an incredibly challenging 2020, I’m sure many Victorians can relate to having a renewed sense of appreciation for our gorgeous trees, as for many they were welcome companions on our countless lockdown walks.”
Visit our Facebook page from Sunday 18 April to Sunday 2 May 2021 during the Australian Heritage Festival and click “like” on the tree you would like to win the 2021 Tree of the Year title, or email your vote to conservation@nattrust.com.au. View the full list of trees below.
The winner will be announced shortly after voting closes.
Eloise Dowd
Environmental Heritage Advocate
trust.trees@nattrust.com.au
Download the 2021 National Trust Victorian Tree of the Year Media Kit
For media enquiries, email media@nattrust.com.au.
This Lemon-scented gum exhibits a very unusual growth form. The species typically has a smooth trunk, but this specimen is deeply wrinkled. The cause of this growth form is not known – it may be a genetic variation, or a plant response to external stimuli during the initial growth phase. You can see why we gave it the nickname “the Shar Pei tree!”
This tree is one of the largest and oldest known English Oaks in Victoria, and the oldest tree in the Castlemaine Botanic Gardens. It was planted in 1863 to celebrate the marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales. A landmark within the gardens, this tree shades the BBQ and playground area and is well-loved by the community.
This River Red Gum is approximately 200-300 years old and contributes greatly to the urban Alphington station landscape. Thanks to passionate community members, this tree was saved from being removed as part of proposed carpark development in 2013 and holds significant importance for the local community. The area has undergone restoration and there is a number of younger River Red Gums around it, creating a beautiful natural setting around the station.
This Moreton Bay Fig is amongst the oldest cultivated trees in Victoria, and the second largest measured in Victoria It is a dominant feature of the landscape and a remnant of the courtyard garden surrounding "Roseneath", an 1840s homestead that sat on the hill overlooking Lake Wellington. The tree was likely planted by the Dawson family in the 1850s.
This Ponderosa Pine is an imposing specimen and the tallest tree in the Ballarat Botanic Gardens. It is located near the 'Statue of Summer'. The species is known for its patterned, sweet-smelling bark - on a warm day, a butterscotch or vanilla scent exudes from the cracks between the bark slabs.
A large and striking example of a species uncommonly planted in Victoria. Despite the name, this tree is not an Oak! It is native to the rainforest regions of Queensland and New South Wales, and often used as a decorative timber. This specimen is a focal point upon entering the gates of the Royal Botanic Gardens.
This Port Jackson Fig has a highly unusual form, straddling the bluestone walls of Old Melbourne Gaol and RMIT. It is the only known example in Melbourne of a fig growing atop a wall with aerial roots anchoring it in place. It is a stunning specimen, greatly contributing to the reflective atmosphere of the shaded Fig Tree Courtyard.
The ‘Federal Oak’ was planted on 27 March 1890 by Sir Henry Parkes to commemorate the 1890 Australasian Federation Conference, held at Parliament House in Melbourne. It is situated in the Parliamentary Gardens, designed in part by William Guilfoyle, landscape architect of the Royal Botanic Gardens. It is a focal point of the formal garden.
This Flooded Gum is an exceptional example of the species in an urban area, towering over a quiet intersection in the grounds of a kindergarten. It has an unusual canopy expression and branching for the species, which in a forest setting is typically single-stemmed and straight.
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) is the state’s leading advocate for the protection of trees, celebrating the benefits they provide to our communities. Since 1982 the National Trust has classified over 20,000 trees in the National Trust Significant Tree Register.
The Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour is a combination of 281 Dutch elms (Ulmus X hollandica) and Huntington elms (Ulmus X hollandica 'Vegeta'), planted in 1918 to honour local community members who served in WWI. The Avenue is of State significance and forms a remarkable entranceway to Bacchus Marsh.
This River Red Gum is more than 300 years old and is likely the oldest tree remaining of the original Bulleen Red Gum forest. As of 2021, it remains under threat of removal to make way for the North East Link highway project, despite strenuous community objection.
