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Significant Trees

Trees Classified by the National Trust of Australia (Vic) as "Significant Trees"

Two of our Bickleigh Vale trees were classified by the National Trust committee in March 2015 who agreed to recommend to the National Trust classifications committee that both trees be included in the Trust's register at a State level. The two trees were finally  approved by their Board and went live 0n National Trust website and App in July 2017.
Special thanks go to Coral Cunningham of Bickleigh Vale who,has worked tirelessly to make this happen.

Dunn’s White Gum (Eucalyptus dunnii), Median Strip, Edna Walling Lane, South End

Click Here to go to the National Trust web site entry
Picture

​STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (extract from the NTA(Vic) Classification Report - read the full report here):
 
NAME :          
 
Family:  Myrtaceae
 
Botanical Name:  Eucalyptus dunnii
 
Common name:  Dunn’s White Gum
 
Location:  
 
Address & Locality:  Median Strip, Edna Walling Lane, south end
 
Municipality (Shire/Council):  Yarra Ranges Shire Council
 
Melway / Vicroads Reference:  52 A2
 
Longitude: 145°19'51.08"E
Latitude: 37°47'30.05"S
 
What is significant?
Growing in the Edna Walling Lane median strip is a striking white trunked Dunn’s White Gum.  This tree is the only known example of this species in Victoria.  The tree is growing within (or beside an area that Walling had developed as a nursery.  Walling in her later career developed an interest in Australian flora.
 
How is it significant?
The Dunn’s White Gum is significant for aesthetic and rarity reasons at a State level.
 
Why is it significant?
This tree is the only known example of this species in Victoria. Dunn’s White Gum has an impressive white trunk and the towering tree and high spreading canopy is a distinctive feature in the landscape. 
 
Context
Growing in the median strip in Edna Walling Lane amongst exotic trees and shrubs


Post Oak (Quercus stellata), Garden of 'Sonningfield’, 2 Edna Walling Lane, 

Click Here to go to the National Trust web site entry
Picture

​STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: (extract from the NTA(Vic) Classification Report - read the full report here):
 
NAME :                      
 
Family:  Fagaceae
 
Botanical Name:  Quercus stellata
 
Common name:  Post Oak
 
Location:  
 
Address & Locality:  ‘Sonningfield’, 1 Edna Walling Lane, Mooroolbark. Growing a rear (east) of new residence
 
Municipality (Shire/Council):  Yarra Ranges Shire
 
Melway / Vicroads Reference: 52 A2
 
Longitude:  145°19'52.00"E
 
Latitude: 37°47'30.34"S
 
What is significant?
Growing in the former grounds of ‘Sonning’ the home of Edna Walling, the Post Oak is an impressive tree with a large straight trunk and high canopy. This tree is the only known example of this species in Victoria. 
 
How is it significant?
The Post Oak is significant for historic and rarity reasons at a State level.
 
Why is it significant?
 This tree is the only known example of this species in Victoria. The Post Oak is growing in the former grounds of ‘Sonning’, the home of Edna Walling.  The location is in an area developed as a nursery by Walling.
 
Context
 The Post Oak is growing in a private garden and is part of a row of 3 trees.  The other two trees to the north are a Funeral Cypress and a Pin Oak.  Nearby are other oaks (Quercus macrocarpa), Monterey Pines, Monterey Cypress, holly and rhododendrons.


Did you know Bickleigh Vale has its very own Crabapple?

"Oh: I'm immensely proud of Malus 'Sonning'. This year it is more than ever evident that it is the clearest of all the wine-red varieties...There is, of course, no justification for my pride, for it was just one of those flukes of Nature!" 
Letters to Garden Lovers", Australian Home Beautiful, November 1938. Edna Walling 
At Bickleigh Vale we are happy to have some of these specimens of horticultural significance... the Malus x purpurea 'Sonningensis' - a crabapple selected about 1936-40 by Edna Walling from her garden 'Sonning'.
In 2017 we have a some old specimen trees sprinkled throughout Bickleigh Vale however we are unsure of their origin. Did Edna Walling plant them? We know she planted some at Mistover and Lynton Lea and of course her own garden Sonning , Unfortunately some of these were lost in droughts throughout the years since they were planted. 
We do have quite a few that were planted after one of our residents sourced some from a local nursery who developed the stock from trees from Methodist Ladies College school in Kew where Edna Walling originally planted some of the gardens. Since being planted, most of these trees have thrived in the gardens so the Sonning Crabapple is alive and well at Bickleigh Vale and we treasure our "bold lass".
From "A Gardeners Log" written by Edna Walling 1948:

"It is now 22 September, and here follows all that  is in flower at the moment. Right in front of the office window is Malus sonningensis at her very best. She is a bold lass, with all the richness of colouring of M. 'Eleyi' ( one of the best of the red wine - red varieties of the floribundas type of Crabapple  but later in flower). This chance seedling that came up at Sonning certainly knocks the old M. purpurea clean pit of the running [ in spite of its Latin form, the name M. sonningensis has, of course,  no official status]. I am ashamed there isn't a single M. floribunda to be seen ; my sole specimen the opossums took to with tremendous gusto, and I have neglected to plant numbers of this delightful of all the crabs, to my very great discredit. When ordering, don't let them send you M.purpurea; floribunda has bright red buds, open in white petals, and therein lies its charm ; purpurea has petals of a washed out red."
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Our Other Significant Trees

From survey by John Hawker, National Trust of Australia (Vic), March 2014

Sonning/Sonningfield, 23 Pine Road and 2 Edna Walling Lane


​Quercus bicolor
White Oak

​Quercus stellata
​Post Oak
Only known example of this species in Victoria
National Trust Classification Report
Picture
Picture

Betula pendula
Silver Birch
​A group of small Silver Birches with multiple branch damage is present

​Seqoiadendron giganteum
​Giant Redwood

Sequoia sempervirens
Coast Redwood

Cupressus torulosa
​Bhutan Cypress

Pseudotsuga mensiezii
​Douglas Fir   (Oregon)

Chamaecyparis funebris
Funeral Cypress
Picture

Acmena smithii
​Lilly Pilly

Pinus radiata
​Monterey Pine

Pittosporum undulatum
​Sweet Pittosporum

Eucalyptus radiata
​Narrow Leafed Peppermint

Hesperocyparis macrocarpa
​(formley Cupressus macrocarpa)
​Monterey Cypress

Ilex aquilifolium
​English Holly
Picture
Picture

Badgers Wood, 17 Bickleigh Vale Road


Ulmus glabra 'Lutescens'
Golden Elm

Crataegus sp.  (check species)
​Hawthorn
Thornapple
Picture

Windsong, 25 Bickleigh Vale Road


Quercus canariensis
Algerian Oak

Leptospermum sp. 
Tea Tree
Suffering stress

Wimborne, 19 Bickleigh Vale Road


Chamaecyparis lawsonniana
​Lawson's Cypress
Suffering stress but no viable solutions to resolve this

The Barn, 3 Edna Walling Lane

Quercus ilex
Holm Oak or Holly Oak
​(also Quercus bicolor, but now lost- but stump still exists)
Picture

Glencairn, 9 Bickleigh Vale Road


Quercus acutissima
Japanese Chestnut Oak or Bristel-tipped Oak


Quercus macrocarpa
Burr Oak

Zelkova serrata
Japanese Zelkova

​Rosa 'Edna Walling'

Lynton Lee, 9 Pine Road


Quercus 'Macedon'
Hybrid Oak

Quercus rubra
Northern Red Oak

Quercus macrocarp
Burr Oak

Quercus. nigra
​Water Oak

​Quercus canariensis
Algerian Oak

Betula pendula
​Silver Birch

​Pinus wallichiana
Himalayan White Pine

Malus x purpurea "Sonningensis"
​Sonning Crabapple

Sarn, 26 Bickleigh Vale Road


Callitris glaucophylla
White Cypress Pine
​Unable to confirm due to overgrown garden

Downderry, 10 Bickleigh Vale Road

Hesperocyparis glabra
(formerly Cupressus glabra)​
​Smooth-barked Arizona Cypress

The Spinney, 15 Bickleigh Vale Road


Carpinus betulis
Hornbeam
died due to heat stress

Hesperocyparis lusitanica
​Mexican Cypress
​died due to heat stress

Mistover, 4 Bickleigh Vale Road


Eucalyptus rubida
Candlebark

Malus x purpurea (sonningenesis)
​Sonning Crabapple
​died and removed

Hurst, 102 Pembroke Road


Acacia prominens
​Golden Wreath Wattle

Bena Lodge, 122 Cardigan Road


Pyrus persica
​Persian Pear
(very large tree east of house)

Bickleigh Vale Road


Pinus muricata
Bishop's-cone Pine
(Near Hurst. Died and removed February 2016 - seeds retained)

Quercus canariensis
Algerian Oak

Edna Walling Lane


Eucalyptus dunnii
Dunns Gum
Only known tree in Vic

National Trust Classification Report
Picture
Picture

Other Impressive Trees

Whilst not officially 'significant'trees, there are many other very impressive trees in the village.
​
The Candlebark gum at the entrance to Whistlewood
Picture
Friends of Edna Walling at Bickleigh Vale Village. All rights reserved
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