Bland Oak
{{Short description|Historic Southern live oak in Carramar, New South Wales, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox tree
| name = Bland Oak
| image = Theblandoak.jpg
| alt = The oak tree in 2016
| image_caption = The oak tree in 2016
| species = Live oak
| binomial = Quercus virginiana
| location = Carramar, New South Wales,
Sydney, Australia
| coordinates = {{coord|-33.8797|150.9617|display=inline}}
| seeded = 1842
| felled =
| custodian = William Bland (planter)
Fairfield City Council
| website =
}}
The Bland Oak, or Bland's Oak Tree, is a historic Southern live oak situated in Carramar, Greater Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, that is approximately over 180 years old, making it one of Sydney's oldest living introduced trees and also one of the largest in the region.{{cite web |last=Boulous |first=Chris |title=Nothing Bland about our Oak tree |work=Fairfield City Champion |publisher=Fairfax Media |date=April 20, 2018 |url=https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/5354072/nothing-bland-about-our-oak-tree/#slide=2 |access-date=August 29, 2018 |archive-date=29 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829105943/https://www.fairfieldchampion.com.au/story/5354072/nothing-bland-about-our-oak-tree/#slide=2 |url-status=dead }} A local significance and a historic symbol of Fairfield City Council, the oak tree is included on Fairfield City's coat of arms.
Description
Planted by former convict, politician, farmer and inventor William Bland in 1842, the Bland Oak was the largest tree in Australia until it split in two parts after a storm early on New Year Day 1941. Its dissipated wood was assembled and carved into the Mayoral chair, which is currently housed at Fairfield City Museum & Gallery in Smithfield. Despite the incident, the oak tree still remains to be the largest of its kind in Sydney, with its interminably sprawling crowns and prominent canopy, providing decent shade.{{cite web |last=Newman|first=Martin|title=Land of the Giants: Australia’s great trees need more recognition|publisher= The Daily Telegraph|date=September 14, 2018 |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/bush-behemoths-australias-giant-trees-among-the-worlds-tallest/news-story/e08b2302ddfc72e97789ad591e464aa0 |access-date=November 25, 2024}}
Located in the suburb of Carramar in Oakdene Park, which lies in Bland Street, the tree is around {{convert|13|m|ft}} tall and has a width of more than {{convert|30|m|ft}}.
Significance
Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone proposed for the tree to be recognised on a national level after the council accepted its local importance in the Local Environmental Plan in 2013. Fairfield Council will apply to the National Trust of Australia to have the tree listed on the National Register of Significant Trees, which documents and preserves more than 2000 significant trees.{{cite web |last=Bar|first=Eliza |title=Blands Oak recommended for National Trust register after long history in Sydney’s southwest |work=Fairfield Advance|publisher= The Daily Telegraph|date=May 1, 2018 |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/fairfield-advance/blands-oak-recommended-for-national-trust-register-after-long-history-in-sydneys-southwest/news-story/34c979aae00d8c2d8346607aec50eb46 |access-date=August 29, 2018}}
According to Carbone, “This lonely tree standing in the middle of our city is significant for its age, rarity and unique shape telling a story of our heritage”. Further, he stated “It represents a significant part of our local heritage and is a historic symbol of our city, standing as a landmark beside Prospect Creek”.
Acorns from the tree were collected in March 2020 and planted to grow about 10 new "Bland Oaks" throughout the city.[https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Your-Council/About-Council/Mayors-Message/Growing-new-Bland-Oaks Growing new Bland Oaks] Frank Carbone, Fairfield City Council, 23 May 2019
Gallery
File:BlankOaktree.jpg|Oakdene Park entrance sign with tree in background
File:BlandOakCarramar.jpg|The tree up close
File:Blandoaktree.jpg|Whole view of tree at dusk
See also
- Site of Ficus superba var. henneana tree, a historical tree in Sydney CBD
- List of individual trees
- Fairfield Park Precinct, a large park just to the north of the tree
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20180829072504/https://www.oakdenehouse.org.au/about-us/ Oakdene House Foundation]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cHqqlHuVCo Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone speaking about the tree in situ]
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Sydney landmarks|state=collapsed}}
Category:Tourist attractions in Sydney