Norfolk Island Pine Trees, Cleveland facts for kids
The Norfolk Island Pine Trees are a special group of trees in Cleveland, Australia. They are protected because of their history and beauty. These trees were added to the Queensland Heritage Register on November 21, 2003.
Quick facts for kids Norfolk Island Pine Trees |
|
|---|---|
Trees seen from across the road, 2015
|
|
| Location | 127 Shore Street North, Cleveland, City of Redland, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: Norfolk Island Pine Trees | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 21 November 2003 |
| Reference no. | 602181 |
| Significant period | 1860s (historical) |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
Contents
The Story of the Norfolk Pines
Planting the Pines
The tall Norfolk Island pine trees at 127 Shore Street North in Cleveland were likely planted in the early 1860s. A man named Francis Edward Bigge probably planted them. He was a large landowner from the Brisbane Valley. Mr. Bigge was very keen on making Cleveland a big port city. He wanted it to be even more important than Brisbane.
Cleveland's Big Dream
In the 1830s, Cleveland was known as Emu Point. It was a stop-off point for people going to Dunwich on Stradbroke Island. Francis Bigge believed Cleveland could be the main port for the Moreton Bay area. He thought it would be better than Brisbane. He spent a lot of money trying to make Cleveland a major export hub.
The people in Ipswich (then called Limestone) wanted their town to be the main supply center. But Bigge and others wanted Brisbane to be the main port. They argued a lot about this. Bigge once said that ships for Great Britain would load their goods and passengers at Cleveland Point. He thought people would cheer for "dirty Brisbane" as they passed it.
The Muddy Problem
In 1842, the Governor of New South Wales, George Gipps, visited Cleveland. He had a very muddy experience. He had to walk through low-tide mud to get from his ship to the shore. This made Cleveland seem less appealing as a port. Brisbane, even with a sandbar at its river mouth, seemed better. Ipswich was even further from the bay. Because of the mud, Brisbane became the main port and the capital of the new colony. But Bigge kept trying to develop Cleveland anyway.
Bigge's Big Hotel
Even without official support, Bigge and others started building in Cleveland. In 1847, the first light was put up at Cleveland Point to guide ships. A stone jetty was also finished. In 1849, Bigge built a large brick hotel. For a while, it was empty and people called it "Bigge's Folly." Today, this building is the famous Grand View Hotel.
In 1850, Cleveland was officially surveyed and became a town. It was renamed after the Duke of Cleveland. At the first land sale in 1851, many people bought land. Bigge bought a lot of land himself.
Setbacks and Continued Growth
In 1852, Bigge had a store built in Cleveland. He also built housing for his workers. This building later became a courthouse and is now a restaurant. It is known as the heritage-listed Old Cleveland Court House.
However, Cleveland faced some problems. In 1853, a ship called the Countess of Derby sank. In 1854, another ship, the Courier, was destroyed by fire. These disasters made some businesses leave Cleveland for Brisbane. Despite this, Cleveland continued to grow slowly.
How the Trees Grew Up
Francis Bigge owned the land where the Norfolk Island Pine trees stand. He bought the land between 1859 and 1863. By 1864, he had built a house there, overlooking Moreton Bay.
In 1869, Bigge sold the property to a politician named Joshua Peter Bell. The property was quite valuable, suggesting it had a house and other improvements.
A photographer named William Boag took pictures around Queensland in the 1870s. In 1871, he took a photo in Cleveland. It showed two young Norfolk Island Pines. They were already taller than the house. These are believed to be the same two landmark trees we see today. The photo also showed other trees around them, including a fig tree that is still there.
Guiding Ships at Night
The property changed hands several times. In 1911, the Bernays family moved into the house and garden. Mrs. Bernays lived there until 1949. She was very proud of her home and its beautiful garden. She often said she would never let the Norfolk Island Pines be cut down. She knew they were a great guide for boatmen at night. Sailors would thank her because the trees stood out against the lights of Brisbane.
By 1906, the pines were already very tall. They were much taller than the other trees around them. It's clear that for many years, these unique trees helped sailors find their way in Moreton Bay.
What Makes Them Special?
The Norfolk Island Pine trees are located at 127 Shore Street North. They are on the road that leads to Cleveland Point. They stand out on the eastern side of the road.
The trees are very old, which means they were planted a long time ago. Pictures and old documents suggest they were planted in the mid-1800s. They were probably part of the garden around Francis Bigge's house. Today, a building called Norfolk Pines home units stands where Bigge's cottage used to be.
Why These Trees Are Important
The Norfolk Island Pine Trees were added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 2003. This means they are protected because they are important to Queensland's history.
- Showing History: These trees help us understand how Queensland's history unfolded. They are linked to the early attempts to make Cleveland a big port and capital city. This was a time when people wanted Cleveland to be a rival to Brisbane.
- Beautiful and Important: The Norfolk Island pine trees are very special to people who sail in Moreton Bay. Their tall, clear shape has helped sailors find their way for over a hundred years. They are a natural landmark.
- Connected to Important People: The trees are strongly connected to Francis Edward Bigge. He was a very important person in Queensland's early history. He tried hard, though he didn't succeed, to make Cleveland the main port of Moreton Bay in the mid-1800s.
