Aboriginal Canoe Tree

Item details


Name of item:	Aboriginal Canoe Tree
Type of item:	Landscape
Category:	Modified tree
Primary address:	George Bass Drive, Broulee, NSW 2537
Local govt. area:	Eurobodalla

All addresses

Street Address	Suburb/town	LGA	Parish	County	Type
George Bass Drive	Broulee	Eurobodalla			Primary Address

Statement of significance:


	The tree has local significance as it is a rare example of an Aboriginal Canoe Tree' occurring within the Eurobodalla Shire: the tree and the manner by which it has been protected is representative of an early appreciation of the practices of the area's indigenous inhabitants by descendants of European settlers.
	Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the Department of Premier and Cabinet copyright and disclaimer.

Description


Designer/Maker:	N/A
Builder/Maker:	N/A
Physical description:	Mature Eucalyptus species.
Physical condition and/or Archaeological potential:	Stable and well maintained
	Date condition updated:25 Feb 11
Further information:	A new timber post and rail fence has been erected around the tree.

History

Historical notes:

Believed to be around 200 years old, the tree has narrowly escaped destruction several times and its survival can be attributed to Mrs Hilda Zandoroff, a long time resident of the Moruya/Broulee district, and founder member of the Moruya and District Historical Society. Mrs Zandoroff noticed that the large elliptic scar on the tree resembled markings on trees in the Tuross area which had been made by Aborigines cutting out bark sheets to make canoes. Her discovery was confirmed by the Canberra Archaeological Society in 1978. The Broulee Progress Association was approached and a small sign was erected explaining that the tree was the only living Aboriginal "Canoe Tree" in the area. Mrs Zandoroff says:- "There are indications that the bark was cut using a stone axe and the height of the cutting shows that one man stood on the shoulders of another to take the bark from the best position. The Aborigines of this district were of a smaller build than those of the inland." The tree is a conspicuous feature now that much of the bush has been cleared around it, and the local Aborigines keep the area cleared and tidy. The Shire Council erected a mesh fence around the tree and a large explanatory placard. These have since been replaced by a post and rail fence constructed of sawn hardwood timber.

Listings

Heritage Listing	Listing Title	Listing Number	Gazette Date	Gazette Number	Gazette Page
Local Environmental Plan	Eurobodalla Rural Local Environmental Plan 1987		26 Nov 04	No.187	8697
Local Environmental Plan	Eurobodalla Local Environmental Plan 2012	I47	20 Jul 12	No.78	3419
Heritage study		BROU/R004	01 Jan 97

Study details

Title	Year	Number	Author	Inspected by	Guidelines used
Eurobodalla Heritage Study	1997	BROU/R004	The EJE Group	EJE	No

References, internet links & images

Type	Author	Year	Title	Internet Links
Oral History	Mrs Hilda Zandoroff, Moruya

Note: internet links may be to web pages, documents or images.

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Data source


The information for this entry comes from the following source:
Name:	Local Government
Database number:	1550042
File number:	95.9373.B

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