Centurion (tree)
{{Short description|World's tallest Eucalyptus tree in Tasmania, Australia}}
{{Infobox tree
| name = Centurion
| image = Centurion tree 99.82.jpg
| image_caption = A photo of Centurion taken in April 2009
| image_size = 160
| binomial = Eucalyptus regnans
| height = {{Convert|96|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| diameter = {{Convert|4.05|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|-43.097684|146.802085|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| map = Tasmania
| map_size = 160
| relief = 1
}}
Centurion is the name given to a single Eucalyptus regnans tree growing in Southern Tasmania, Australia. The tree was first measured by climber-deployed tapeline at {{convert|99.6|m|ft}} tall in 2008, and was subsequently re-measured to be {{convert|100.5|m}} tall by ground laser in 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.gianttrees.com.au/index.php/meet-the-giants/tassies-tallest-trees|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140210163226/http://www.gianttrees.com.au/index.php/meet-the-giants/tassies-tallest-trees|archive-date=2014-02-10|title=Tassies Tallest Trees|access-date=2015-03-18}}{{cite web|title=Australia's Champion Trees|url=http://www.nationalregisterofbigtrees.com.au/listing_view.php?listing_id=205|website=National Register of Big Trees|access-date=14 October 2016}}{{Cite news|date=2018-12-11|title=100 metres and growing: Australia's tallest tree leaves all others in the shade|language=en-AU|work=ABC News|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-12/new-milestone-for-australias-tallest-tree-centurion/10604588|access-date=2021-10-11}} This discovery places E. regnans as the third-tallest tree species in the world after the coast redwood and the Himalayan cypress, and taller than both the Sitka spruce and Coastal Douglas Fir.Wikipedia: List of tallest trees.{{Gymnosperm Database |family=Cupressaceae |genus=Sequoia |title=Sequoia sempervirens |access-date=2 September 2022}}
It was discovered in August 2008 by employees of Forestry Tasmania while analysing the data collected by LiDAR system used in mapping and assessment of state forest resources.{{cite web
|url=http://www.forestrytas.com.au/branchline/e-branchline-archive/archive/branchline-october-9-2008/welcome-to-the-centurion
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110305044030/http://www.forestrytas.com.au/branchline/e-branchline-archive/archive/branchline-october-9-2008/welcome-to-the-centurion
|archive-date=2011-03-05
|title=Welcome to the Centurion!
|author=Forestry Tasmania
|access-date=2016-01-21
|url-status=dead
}}
Condition
The tree is in a small patch of very old forest surrounded by secondary forest and has survived logging and forest fires by coincidence. Near Centurion grew two other giant trees: the 86.5 metre tall E. regnans named Triarius and The Prefect which had a girth of 19m until destroyed in the 2019 fires.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-17/some-of-tasmanias-biggest-trees-are-now-a-pile-of-ash/11018840 |author=ABC |title=Fifteen of Australia's biggest trees destroyed by Tasmanian bushfires |newspaper=ABC News |date=16 April 2019 |access-date=2019-09-25}}
In February 2019 it was damaged from a bushfire that devastated the surrounding area but appears to have initially survived. A new hollow in the base was created by the fire.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-26/tall-tree-centurion-survives-bushfire/10758538 |title=Tasmania's 100-metre tall tree survives bushfire but not without damage|author=ABC|newspaper=ABC News|date=26 February 2019}}
Height
{{See also|List of tallest trees}}
Two more recent measurements indicated that the tree was growing, albeit very slowly. In January 2014 the tree was climbed and the tape drop indicated the tree had grown to 99.82m. However, a further tape drop done in 2016 obtained the slightly lower height of 99.67m.{{cite web|url=http://tasmaniasgianttrees.weebly.com/huon-and-arve-valleys.html|title=Tasmania's Giant Trees - The Arve and Huon Valleys}} Centurion was re-measured again by ground laser in December 2018 and was found to have possibly reached 100.5 meters in height.Unfortunately, largely due to the 2019 Tasmania fires, by 2025 Centurion had lost 4 meters of height and now measures 96 meters tall, with many trees nearby having died in the aftermath of the fire. Centurion now ranks sixth as tallest living tree species.{{cite news |title=Global ‘gigantism’ hotspot: Tasmanian tree standing at almost 100m tallest in the country |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/30/global-gigantism-hotspot-tasmanian-tree-standing-at-almost-100m-tallest-in-the-country |access-date=14 March 2025 |agency=The Guardian |date=30 January 2025}}
The diameter of Centurion is 4.05 metres, its girth exceeds 12 metres, and its volume has been estimated at 268 cubic metres. The name "Centurion" was saved for the hundredth noble tree to be discovered by Forestry Tasmania and coincided with the height of the tree. Named after centurions (Roman officers), the root of the name contains centum, which in Latin means "one hundred". Centurion is alternately known as "the Bradman" as the height of the tree at 99.82 metres was close to the Test run average of the Australian cricketer Donald Bradman.{{cite press release |url=http://www.forestrytas.com.au/branchline/branchline-february-6-2009/new-series-of-going-bush-screens-sundays-at-5-30pm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121065345/http://www.forestrytas.com.au/branchline/branchline-february-6-2009/new-series-of-going-bush-screens-sundays-at-5-30pm |archive-date=2010-01-21 |title=New series of Going Bush screens Sundays at 5.30pm. |author=Forestry Tasmania |access-date=2010-01-03 |url-status=dead}}