Description
These two trees visually combine with the row of Hill’s Weeping Figs, located in Newtown Public School, to create a memorable landscape quality to this location (refer to listing in this Register). They have been the subject of recent community action when their removal was suggested as a result of a major limb failure of one tree and a large basal cavity.
Significance
These two mature Hill’s Weeping Figs (Ficus microcarpa var. hillii) are substantial individual specimens with massive spreading canopies. These figs have local significance in terms of their visual and social values.
Historical notes
Lillian Fowler was the first woman magistrate in NSW (1921), first woman councillor in NSW (1928), first woman mayor in Australia (for Newtown Council) (1938) and first woman elected to the NSW parliament (1944). The planting possibly dates from the late Inter-War period (c.1915-1940). Aerial photos of the area indicate some very young row planting in the vicinity of these figs. It is unknown if these trees are the same trees but their size would indicate such a date and be commensurate with other planting in the LGA of this species.
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