Leichhardt Tree, Taroom facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leichhardt Tree
Leichhardt Tree, 2009
Location	Yaldwyn Street, Taroom, Shire of Banana, Queensland, Australia
Design period	1840s - 1860s (mid-19th century)
Built	1844
Queensland Heritage Register
Official name: Leichhardt Tree
Type	state heritage (landscape)
Designated	21 October 1992
Reference no.	600835
Significant period	1844 (historical)
Significant components	memorial - plaque, signage - interpretative
Builders	Ludwig Leichhardt
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The Leichhardt Tree is a special tree in Taroom, Queensland, Australia. It's famous because the explorer Ludwig Leichhardt carved a mark into its bark way back in 1844. This kind of mark is called a "blaze." The tree is now protected as a heritage site, meaning it's an important part of Queensland's history.

The Story of the Leichhardt Tree

The Leichhardt Tree is found in Taroom, near the Dawson River. It's named after Ludwig Leichhardt, a famous explorer. People believe he marked this tree during his big journey from the Darling Downs to Port Essington (which is near Darwin) between 1844 and 1846.

Who Was Ludwig Leichhardt?

Ludwig Leichhardt was born in Prussia (now part of Germany) in 1813. He loved to study philosophy, languages, and natural sciences. He came to Sydney in 1841 because he wanted to explore the Australian interior. Before his big trip, he studied the rocks and plants around Sydney. He also explored areas between Newcastle and Moreton Bay.

Leichhardt's Big Expedition

By 1844, Leichhardt was eager to explore. He wanted to join a government expedition to Port Essington. But the government was slow to approve it. So, Leichhardt decided to start his own journey. He got money from farmers and landowners called "squatters" to fund his trip.

Leichhardt and five helpers sailed from Sydney to Moreton Bay. Two more men joined them there, and another two joined on the Darling Downs. On October 1, 1844, they left Jimbour Station. This was at the edge of the settled areas of the northern Darling Downs.

Marking the Tree

By early November, Leichhardt's group reached Juandah (now Wandoan). Leichhardt decided to send two men back to Jimbour. The rest of the group kept going north. They reached the Dawson River, which Leichhardt named. They crossed the river where Taroom is today.

One of Leichhardt's team, a naturalist named John Gilbert, wrote about the beautiful Dawson Valley. He described it as a "park scenery" with "clear undulating hills" and "a carpet of evergreens."

It's believed that Leichhardt camped on the south side of the upper Dawson River. Later, another explorer named Pemberton Hodgson found three large gum trees marked with the letter "L" there. The coolibah tree in Yaldwyn Street, Taroom, is thought to be one of these trees. It once clearly showed the mark "LL.1844."

In 1916, you could still see one "L" and part of "1844." But over time, the tree's bark grew over the marks. By the mid-1970s, the blaze was barely visible. Today, you can no longer see it.

The Journey Continues

After marking the tree, Leichhardt's group crossed the Dawson River. They stayed at Palm Tree Creek for a few days. Then they continued west, crossing the Expedition Range. In June 1845, a sad event happened: John Gilbert was killed in an attack by Aboriginal people. But the rest of the group survived. They finally reached Port Essington, near Darwin, on December 17, 1845. They had traveled nearly 3,000 miles (about 4,800 km) overland! They returned to Sydney by ship in March 1846.

Opening Up the Land

Leichhardt's journey, and Pemberton Hodgson's explorations, helped open up southeastern Queensland for new settlers. Even before Leichhardt's diary was published in 1847, people heard about the rich pastures of the Dawson River area. This encouraged squatters, like the Archer brothers, to explore the region more closely.

By November 1845, Taroom Station was set up. By 1854, most of the land in the Leichhardt pastoral district was used for farming. The town of Taroom slowly grew at the Dawson River crossing. It became a stopping point between Roma and Rockhampton. A post office opened in Taroom in 1853, and the town was officially surveyed in 1860.

Other Marks on the Tree

The Leichhardt Tree has had other marks on it over the years.

• In 1893, the Dawson River flooded. The water reached the base of the tree, and this flood level was marked on the tree. This mark is also no longer visible.
• By 1916, a surveyor had also made a mark on the tree.
• In 1925, the Irrigation and Water Supply Department surveyed the area for a possible dam. Another mark was supposedly made on the tree then, but it's also gone now.

By the mid-1970s, the tree was not doing well. It had been cut back a lot and was damaged by insects. In 1979, people filled and sealed holes in the tree to stop it from rotting. The tree has grown back successfully since then.

On October 23, 1988, a monument was put up near the tree. This was done by the local historical society and tourism group. It celebrated Australia's 200th birthday and Leichhardt's 175th birthday.

What the Leichhardt Tree Looks Like Today

The Leichhardt Tree, around 1914

The town of Taroom is where the Leichhardt Highway crosses the Dawson River. The Leichhardt Tree is about 150 meters (about 490 feet) up a hill from the river. It's on the west side of Yaldwyn Street in Taroom. Yaldwyn Street is part of the Leichhardt Highway, which connects Roma and Rockhampton.

Even though the tree's roots are mostly covered by roads and buildings, the tree looks healthy. It's a mature coolibah tree (Eucalyptus microtheca), which grows naturally in the Dawson River area. It's about 14 meters (about 46 feet) tall, and its branches spread about 13 meters (about 43 feet) wide. Experts believe the tree is at least 300 years old!

A sign in the tree's branches says "LEICHHARDT TREE." But, as mentioned, all the original marks have been covered by the bark.

There's a plaque attached to the tree that says:

Leichhardt, the explorer, passed over this track and marked this Tree in 1844.

At the bottom of the tree, facing the street, there's a small concrete block with a metal plaque. It says:

Why the Leichhardt Tree is Important

The Leichhardt Tree was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on October 21, 1992. This means it's recognized as a very important part of Queensland's history and culture.

A Landmark in History

Leichhardt's exploration of the Dawson River area was very important. It helped lead to a quick growth of farming and ranching in the Leichhardt district. This happened from the mid-1840s to the early 1850s.

A Beautiful and Recognizable Tree

The Leichhardt Tree is thought to be around 300 years old. It's a well-known landmark in Taroom. It adds a lot to the look of the town's streets. Everyone in Taroom knows it, and many travelers take photos of it.

Connected to a Famous Explorer

The Leichhardt Tree in Taroom is important because of its connection to Ludwig Leichhardt. He was a Prussian explorer who played a big part in the early exploration of Australia's interior. His amazing journey from the Darling Downs to Port Essington taught Europeans a lot about the Queensland landscape.