Jacaranda (University of Sydney)

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The Jacaranda in the courtyard of Sydney University (2014)

The Jacaranda was a historically significant specimen of Jacaranda mimosifolia . The tree stood on the main quadrangle of the University of Sydney . It was first planted by Associate Professor Eben Gowrie Waterhouse in 1928 and replanted several times in the 1930s. It bloomed in late spring, towards the end of the academic year, and became a symbol of college graduation. It was the background to many events and was listed in the Significant Tree Register of the City of Sydney . On October 28, 2016, the tree died after 88 years and fell.

history

The tree stood in a corner of the lawn in front of the main building, on the part of the building where the philosophy lectures are held. Gowrie Waterhouse , who was McCaughey Associate Professor of German and Comparative Literature at the time, planted the tree. He was an expert on camellias and his interest in horticulture and landscape architecture shaped the university's gardens. Waterhouse was also involved in the beautification of the area by planting trees for the university, as well as the city and beyond. In a speech he gave in Newcastle in 1936 , he emphasized that the beautification of urban and suburban areas is one of the best forms of community service and that tree protection and creative work are equally important in planting. In 1966 he received a gold medal from the Royal Horticultural Society in London for his life's work .

There have been many stories about how difficult it was to grow the tree. Students were blamed for several failed attempts and frustrated committee members expressed their excitement over "the despicable acts of irresponsible vandals". When the planting was finally successful, the jacaranda grew to a crown width of 18 m and thus became a symbol of the university.

Carpet of flowers on the lawn, 2015.

Over the years the jacaranda became the backdrop for public and private celebrations held in the building. Some referred to the tree as "the most famous tree in education". The tree was popular despite its association with the November graduation period, when all of Sydney's jacarandas bloom. It was a well-known folk wisdom that no one would pass the exam if they didn't start studying before the purple flowers appeared.

In 2005 the Jacaranda was entered in the list of historic or environmentally significant trees of the city of Sydney. It was listed as a "living asset". In 2012 it was counted among the "Top 10" of the register. Other trees on the list include Moreton Bay Figs in Alexandria Park, Alexandria, and on Observatory Hill ; Brush Box Trees on Avenue Road, Glebe ; Washington Palms in Farrer Place, Sydney; Plane trees on Bourke Street, Surry Hills, and Dragon's Blood Trees in Cook and Phillip Park .

Die
View through the jacaranda at a post-graduation ceremony in the Main Quad (2013).

In 2016 the tree died after 88 years. The cause was probably an infection with ganoderma fungus . The tree fell on October 28th. It was removed the next day and the university reminded its students that the tree had started to bloom and wished the students good luck in their study weeks.

Two years earlier, the university administration had learned that the tree was sick and had cuttings taken as a precaution in 2014. In addition to the clone of the tree, the university wants to plant a local yellow box or flame tree , in respect for the Cadigal aborigines, on whose ancestral territory the university is today.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Tree Planting and Landscape . In: The Newcastle Sun , March 6, 1936, p. 6. Retrieved October 30, 2016. 
  2. ^ WM O'Neil: Waterhouse, Eben Gowrie (1881–1977) . National Center of Biography, Australian National University. 1990.
  3. ↑ a b "beautification of urban and suburban areas ranked among the finest forms of community service" and that in tree planting, the preservation of trees and the creative work were both important. Beauty in Trees . In: Newcastle Morning Herald And Miners' Advocate , March 10, 1936, p. 5. 
  4. ↑ "motions deploring the actions of irresponsible vandals". Tree Destruction at University . In: The Sydney Morning Herald , July 12, 1938, p. 13. Retrieved October 31, 2016. 
  5. ^ Destruction at University . In: The Sydney Morning Herald , May 25, 1939, p. 10. Retrieved October 31, 2016. 
  6. ↑ News In Brief: Joke Loses its Point . In: Barrier Miner , July 12, 1938, p. 1 (Home Edition). Accessed October 31, 2016. 
  7. ↑ Nicky Phillips: University of Sydney clones iconic quadrangle jacaranda tree . In: The Sydney Morning Herald , November 16, 2014. 
  8. ^ "The most famous tree in education". Mark Scott: Vale: the most famous tree in Australian education. Sydney Uni quad's jacaranda. . October 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ Elle Hunt: Sydney University bereft over death of jacaranda tree: 'say it isn't so' . In: Guardian Australia , October 29, 2016. 
  10. ↑ James Hennessy: VALE: Sydney Uni's Beloved Jacaranda Tree Bit The Dust Overnight . In: Pedestrian Daily , October 29, 2016. 
  11. ↑ Jay Savage: Australians mourn tree that 'failed' university students (en-GB) . In: BBC News , October 31, 2016. 
  12. ^ A b Han Nguyen: Students past and present mourn University of Sydney's famous jacaranda tree . In: The Sydney Morning Herald , October 29, 2016. 
  13. ^ University of Sydney, University Avenue . City of Sydney. 2013.
  14. ↑ Melanie Kembrey: What Brought down Sydney University's jacaranda tree . In: The Sydney Morning Herald , October 30, 2016. 
  15. ^ The Jacaranda tree in the Quad has died - Honi Soit .
  16. ↑ "them all well for their final weeks of study for 2016". University community mourns jacaranda tree collapse . University of Sydney. October 29, 2016.
  17. ^ Ed McMahon: A botanical expose. October 21, 2014, Honi Soit [1]
  18. ↑ Lucy Cormack: University of Sydney's beloved jacaranda to be replaced by April 2017 alongside a new native . In: The Sydney Morning Herald , November 11, 2016. 

Web links

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