Aussie Icons #5 - Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine, Queensland

Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine Queensland

When the Tree of Knowledge was poisoned shortly after it's inclusion on the National Heritage List on Australia Day, 2006, I was appalled. Another Aussie historic landmark fallen victim to the disregard sometimes shown for our heritage. So … while appalled, I was also resigned to its fate. If a tree dies, it's gone for good, right? RIGHT??

Wrong!

Is it just OZ where a replacement tree would be considered a viable option? Maybe, maybe not. But we're not talking a simple replanting. That'd be too easy. We're talking rebuilding!

So when news broke that the tree would be replaced by a virtual monument – an homage to the original Tree of Knowledge – I was sceptical.

Could a virtual tree memorial be built that actually at least equalled the real thing? Because if it DIDN'T, what would be the point??

Roses and Things - Afternoon Tea


You've probably figured by now that this Tree of Knowledge isn't the Garden of Eden original. Although the nearby Roses and Things garden and tea rooms closely approximates how I'd imagined the legendary garden, downtown Barcaldine isn't quite the same thing!  Despite it being known as 'Garden City of the West' ...

Exterior - Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine

But why all this fuss about a tree?

Well ... Barcaldine is WAAAY more than just an edenesque Rose Garden and killer bakery! It's arguably the only place in Australia – if not the world! - with a combination heritage walk/pub crawl based around the 5 historic pubs in the main street!!

But I digress …


One of Barcaldine's 5 main street pubs!

 

In 1891, a dispute between shearers, their union and local pastoralists polarised political opinion, culminating in an historic strike and the rise of the Australian Labor Party. Events unfolded under a Ghost Gum (Eucalyptus papuana) in the town's centre, subsequently dubbed the 'Tree of Knowledge'.

A local and national iconic symbol, poisoning the tree wasn't just vandalism - but political sabotage. And an appropriate replacement for this priceless icon?

Impossible!

Or was it?


Under the Canopy - Tree of Knowledge, Barcaldine

 So, in August 2011, I approached the virtual tree with some apprehension.  Probably the best I could hope for was that I didn't hate it. But, standing in the shade covering the area of the original canopy, I experienced a rare moment of speechless admiration. Incorporating the preserved trunk and some branches of the original, but with a canopy of wooden cylinders to replicate leaves and the sound of wind in the 'foliage', this awesome virtual tree ROCKS*!

This stunning tribute actually betters (in my opinion!) the original icon it commemorates.

But perhaps that's partly because it provides a unique photographic experience in that it's almost impossible to take a poor shot!!



Under the Canopy - Detail

And there's hope for the future too, with Barcaldine's Australian Workers Heritage Centre home to the 'Young-Un' (or Son of Tree of Knowledge!) grown from the original tree's DNA!

So, maybe another icon will be unveiled at the 'Tree of Knowledge' festival in another hundred years or so!!  Watch this space ...

 
* Well done, Brian Hooper and m3architecture!

PS  So as not to disappoint regular readers accustomed to a never-ending stream of Outback 

cliché shots, I leave you with this superb windmill just outside the Barcaldine Visitor Information Centre!  You're welcome ...

Windmill, Barcaldine, Queensland

Oh!  One more thing ... if you think THIS is amazing, check out 'Our World Tuesday' for more fabulousness (?!) from all around the world!