Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve

Gregory's tree (Boab) at Victoria River, in the 1890s

Gregory's tree, 1900

Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory and it is situated within the Judbarra / Gregory National Park and is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) north-west of Timber Creek and on the Victoria Highway and is a registered heritage site.[1][2] The reserve is a small one consisting of 2 hectares (4.9 acres).[3]

Gregory's tree itself is a boab tree (Adansonia gregorii) which is sacred to the Ngarinman people; for this reason it is also registered as a sacred site.[1][4][5]

A permanent declaration placing it on the Northern Territory Heritage Register made on 1 March 1995.[6]

History

Gregory's Tree, which the reserve encapsulates, was named for Augustus Charles Gregory when he was the leader of the North Australia Expedition in 1855 - 1856 and it marks an area where he camped. The dates of these camps, 13 October 1855 and 2 July 1856, is inscribed into the tree trunk and where designed to serve as a marker of their expedition; in case they came into trouble.[1][7][8]

The species of tree was also named and first described by Ferdinand von Mueller, the botanist for the expedition, in honour of Gregory.[5]

References

1. "Gregory's Tree". northernterritory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
2. "Gregory's Tree". Monument Australia. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
3. "Judbarra / Gregory National Park and Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve Joint Management Plan". Katherine (N.T.): Parks and Wildlife Service of the Northern Territory. hdl:10070/460833. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
4. "Gregorys Tree (Monument)". NT Place Names Register. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
5. "Gregory's Tree, Timber Creek". northernterritory.com. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
6. "Site Details, Gregory's Tree, 1740 Victoria Hwy, Gregory". NT Heritage Register. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
7. "Gregory's marked tree". The Sydney Mail. Vol. LII, no. 1347. New South Wales, Australia. 19 January 1938. p. 23. Retrieved 27 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Explorer's memorial". The West Australian. Vol. XLVII, no. 8, 902. Western Australia. 3 January 1931. p. 10. Retrieved 27 September 2024 – via National Library of Australia.

15.566193°S 130.366158°E / -15.566193; 130.366158