THE OLD FIG TREE - A Showground icon. In 1986, the grand old strangler fig, which proudly dominated the Maclean Showground and was the crest of the former Maclean Shire Council, was nearing its end. The tree was estimated to be over 400 years old and featured prominently in aboriginal legend. The council fenced the tree off and filled it with concrete to try to stabilise the movement. Mr Peter Flavell, the council gardener and qualified arborist, tried in vain to keep the tree alive. A strangler fig is a parasite which entwines The tree in former days around a healthy tree (in this case a red cedar tree) and eventually kills its host. It is a forest dweller and the open exposure at the showground was one of the reasons for its slow demise.
from the bees that made the tree its home, were all sought after by persons present, many of the orchids were saved to be used by Council.
Stump still visible behind goal posts as the dust rises from the fallen tree. High school children in foreground. (Report sourced from Lower Clarence Clarion, The Daily Examiner and MDHS records.) Story contributed by Ken Muller, Maclean Historical Society © 2019 Heartland Magazine
Other experts, such as Alex Floyd, a Master of Science specialising in rain forest trees; Mr John Wrigley, a botanist; other foresters from the Forestry Commission; as well as National Parks, were all consulted. Although the tree showed signs of recovery in its crown and new root systems, the crack in its trunk about 10 metres above the ground was growing steadily and spreading under the influence of strong winds. Shire President, Mr John Harvey along with other councillors, made the final decision that on Thursday April 10, 1986 at 10.30 am the historic Maclean Showground fig tree would be felled.
Celebrating Men of Yulgilbar at Grafton Regional Gallery Men of Yulgilbar exhibition will officially open at the Gallery on Friday 25th October. Following the successful Women of Yulgilbar exhibition in March 2017, this exhibition features some of the many men whose hard work and leadership skills ensured that Yulgilbar remains a successful and much-loved historic rural property of the Clarence Valley. Men of Yulgilbar explores the lives and contributions of the men whose work has shaped Yulgilbar’s history, including Bundjalung leader Toolbillibam, Edward Ogilvie, Allan Rogan, Sam Hordern, Baillieu Myer, Rob Sinnamon, Boxer Kroehnert and the Yulgilbar shepherds. This exhibition presents incredible historic photographs, as well as artefacts such as an original shepherd’s bed and portrait of Sam Hordern from the Royal Agricultural Society. These stories give us unique insights into these men’s lives, and the life of Yulgilbar station as an ever-evolving mainstay in Australia’s station history.
The tree is pulled by Caterpillar tractor (on right) near electric light pole.
Officially, the tree was 159 feet tall, the spread across the crown was 123 feet and it was 75 feet from the ground to the first limb. When the tree was felled there was estimated to be only four-square feet of healthy wood. “It was the choice between the tree and the potential loss of life,” said Charlie Ryan, President of the Showground Committee. The felling of the tree was witnessed by hosts of school children from local schools, who watched as a D8 Caterpillar tractor attempted to pull the tree, and loud cheers were heard from the children as the tree finally - fell. Orchids, mainly Dendrobium monophylum and honeycomb 22 | Heartland Magazine
This exhibition was curated by Jennifer Baldwin and Lianne Hart, of the Yulgilbar Archives. Gallery Director, Niomi Sands says “We are so privileged to be the host of this outstanding exhibition documenting an important part of the history of the Clarence Valley.” Men of Yulgilbar will be officially opened at an exclusive event at the Gallery on Friday 25th October by Mr Bill Ogilvie and will be on exhibition at the Gallery from October 24 to December 8, 2019
