Pechey Forestry Arboretum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pechey Forestry Arboretum |
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Reserve vegetation along the New England Highway, 2014
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| Location | Pechey State Forest, New England Highway, Pechey, Toowoomba Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Official name: Pechey Forestry Arboretum | |
| Type | state heritage (landscape) |
| Designated | 23 July 1999 |
| Reference no. | 601882 |
| Significant period | 1927-1928 (historical) |
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The Pechey Forestry Arboretum is a special forest area in Pechey, Queensland, Australia. It's a type of forest reserve where different trees were planted for scientific study. This important site is located within the Pechey State Forest. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1999 because of its historical value.
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Why the Arboretum Was Created
Back in 1910, people in Queensland realized they needed more timber. They thought about planting trees that weren't native to Australia. These new trees would help supply wood for building and other uses.
An arboretum is like a special garden for trees. Governments or scientists plant different kinds of trees there. They want to see how well these trees grow in certain climates and soils. This helps them decide which trees are best for large timber plantations.
The Pechey Forestry Arboretum was set up for this exact reason. It was a place for scientific research. The land for Pechey State Forest was bought in 1926. In 1927, work began to plant trees under the guidance of Elton Sharman. The goal was to grow wood for the Darling Downs area.
A tree nursery was also started on the site in 1927. In 1928, the Pechey Arboretum itself was established. It covers about 4.5 hectares (about 11 acres). It was one of many places across Queensland where different tree species were tested. This helped find out which trees could be grown for timber in State Forests.
What the Arboretum Looks Like
The Pechey Forestry Arboretum is about 4.5 hectares in size. It is located along the New England Highway. This is south-east of Perseverance Dam Road, inside Pechey State Forest.
The arboretum stretches along the highway for about 300 meters. It goes back about 150 meters from the road. It's also surrounded by forestry roads that act as firebreaks.
Today, the arboretum is a heavily treed area. It still has seven of the original twenty-four tree species that were planted in the late 1920s. The area is in good condition, even though some weeds have grown there.
Why It's a Heritage Site
The Pechey Forestry Arboretum is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it's an important historical place. It was added to the list on July 23, 1999.
Showing Queensland's History
The forestry industry has been very important to Queensland's economy and history. The Pechey Forestry Arboretum shows a key time in the 1920s. This was when special plots were planted for scientific research. This research helped to make the forestry industry more diverse and successful.
Learning from the Past
This arboretum can still teach us a lot. It has the potential to give us more information about how arboreta were set up. This kind of research was very important for Queensland's farming and timber development. There is still much to learn from places like this.
A Great Example of Its Kind
The arboretum is also important for science. It shows the main features of scientific planting areas. It is a great example of how these research plots were developed in the 1920s.
