Big Fig, Miriam Vale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Fig |
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Big Fig
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| Location | Station Street, Miriam Vale, Gladstone Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: Big Fig | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 6 January 2004 |
| Reference no. | 602323 |
| Significant period | 1897-c. 1900 (historical) |
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The Big Fig is a very old and important tree located on Station Street in Miriam Vale, Queensland, Australia. It's a special landmark because of its history and how it has been used by the local community for many years. This tree is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on January 6, 2004, which means it's protected for future generations.
The Big Fig's Story
The Big Fig tree was likely planted around the late 1800s or early 1900s. People who grew up in Miriam Vale remember it being a large, well-known tree by the 1920s. Some even think it might have been planted by the Miriam Vale Progress Association in 1916.
A Community Meeting Place
No matter when it was planted, the Big Fig quickly became a central spot for the community. For most of the 1900s, it was a famous landmark and a popular meeting place. Until 1977, farmers would bring their cream and milk to the tree. From there, it would be loaded onto trains or trucks to be taken to Gladstone. Dairying was a very important business in the Miriam Vale area back then.
Miriam Vale Grows with the Railway
Miriam Vale started as a pastoral run, which is a large area of land used for raising livestock. Over time, more people moved to the area. A telegraph office opened in 1875, followed by a post office in 1877.
The town of Miriam Vale was officially planned in 1895. This was because the North Coast Railway was being built. The railway line, which connected Gladstone and Bundaberg, opened in Miriam Vale on October 1, 1897. This made a huge difference for the town! Farmers could now easily send their products to markets.
Dairying became even more important after the railway opened. A butter factory was built in Gladstone in the early 1900s. This factory, run by the Port Curtis Co-operative Dairy Company Ltd, gave local dairy farmers a place to sell their cream.
The Tree's Origins
The Big Fig is a type of tree called a Ficus benjamina. This kind of tree is not native to the area. It's thought that the Queensland Railways might have planted it. In the past, the railway department liked to plant large, shady trees at stations. These trees helped keep dust down and gave travelers a cool place to wait. Other railway stations along the North Coast Line also have similar large fig trees. However, some local stories say that early residents planted the tree.
A Shady Spot for Generations
Older residents remember the Big Fig being very large by the 1920s and 1930s. Horses were tied to it, and children played in its branches. It has always been a shady spot for people to meet. Since the nearby war memorial was built in 1921, the tree has provided shade for many Anzac Day ceremonies.
Farmers would gather under the tree with their carts or trucks. They waited for their cream cans to be loaded onto the train to Gladstone. In the 1950s and 1960s, a veterinarian even held appointments under the Big Fig!
The Cream Collection Point
The tree remained a key spot for the dairy industry. In 1952, when trucks started carrying cream, the Big Fig became a collection point for farmers. A ramp was built next to the tree's trunk. This ramp made it easier to load cream and milk cans onto delivery trucks. It was a perfect, shady place for farmers to wait. The original ramp was replaced in the 1960s. The new ramp was used until 1977, when the milk delivery contract to Gladstone ended. Today, only small earth mounds remain from the second ramp.
A Lasting Landmark
The Big Fig is still a well-known landmark in Miriam Vale. Its wide canopy offers a resting place for travelers heading to Agnes Water and the Town of Seventeen Seventy. The Miriam Vale Community Development Inc. group has even adopted the Big Fig as its official logo. They plan to build a boardwalk, rest area, and information displays under the tree to help protect it.
In 2015, the Gladstone Regional Council had to trim the tree's roots. Fig trees have very strong roots that can affect roads and nearby buildings. A special barrier was put in place to stop the roots from growing in that direction.
What the Big Fig Looks Like
The Big Fig is located in a quiet corner near the Miriam Vale railway station. It's next to the War Memorial Park and close to the Miriam Vale Hotel. You can easily spot it when you enter the main street of Miriam Vale. The tree is part of the town's plan to make Blomfield Street more beautiful, with a tree-lined park for locals and tourists.
The tree's trunk is about 12 metres (39 ft) (about 39 feet) around. Its canopy, or leafy top, spreads out about 30 metres (98 ft) (98 feet) from east to west and 35 metres (115 ft) (115 feet) from north to south. The lower branches are very thick and high up. On the western, northern, and eastern sides, the outer parts of the canopy reach almost to the ground. The top of the tree is between 10 and 15 metres (33 and 49 ft) (33 and 49 feet) high.
Underneath the tree, there isn't much grass. The ground is mostly covered with fallen leaves. You can also see the tree's large roots sticking out of the ground near the trunk.
Why the Big Fig is Heritage Listed
The Big Fig was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on January 6, 2004, because it meets several important requirements:
Showing Queensland's History
The Big Fig helps us understand how Queensland's history unfolded. It was planted around the time Miriam Vale was growing. For much of the 1900s, it played a key role in the dairy industry. It was the main spot where cream and milk were collected to be sent to Gladstone.
Its Beautiful Look
The Big Fig is very beautiful and has made the town of Miriam Vale look special since at least the 1920s. Both locals and visitors appreciate its beauty. It's a famous landmark that many people recognize, especially those traveling to Agnes Water and the Town of Seventeen Seventy.
Its Connection to the Community
The Big Fig is important because it has been a popular meeting place for many generations of Miriam Vale residents. The community today highly values the tree for its history, its social importance, and its role in attracting tourists.
