Description
This Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), located within a contiguous strip of parkland bordering Martin Road and Anzac Parade, is part of a much larger mixed collection of trees planted within the Centennial Parkland precinct.
The tree has an exceptionally large lateral branching pattern which extends over the entire corner reserve and partially over the roadway.
Although only approximately 14-15m in height it has a prodigious spread of 30m, with a trunk diameter of 2.5m at 1.0m above ground level. This tree appears to be in reasonable health and vigour, with dense canopy.
Significance
This Oak makes a significant contribution to the aesthetic and visual character of this parkland and streetscape. It is further significant in terms of its historic, social, representative and rarity values. It adjoins an informal row plantation of five Port Jackson Figs (Ficus rubiginosa f. glabrescens) of similar age and Inter-War period street tree planting of Crows Ash (Flindersia australis).
Historical notes
The species is considered to be quite uncommon (Innes, I., 2005). The tree is similar in appearance to the common Holm Oak (Q. ilex) and has a relatively rapid growth rate with some specimens in the United States achieving dramatic proportions over a relatively short time period.
It is believed that this Live Oak dates from the late nineteenth or early twentieth century pre-war period and appears to have been planted as a single specimen. It is clearly evident as a very mature tree in the 1943 aerial photos of the area.
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