Separation Tree

The Separation tree is a heritage listed[1][2] Eucalyptus camaldulensis tree,[3] commonly known as a red river gum, located in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria in Melbourne in Victoria.

[4] Found on the Tennyson Lawn the tree was one of two original river red gums that were along the banks of the swampy billabong which makes up part of the Ornamental Lake.

[3] The tree is a Melbourne landmark and is best known as the site where the citizens of the city congregated on 15 November 1850 to celebrate when the news that Victoria was to separate from the colony of New South Wales[4] after it had been announced by Governor La Trobe.

[6] A plaque commemorating the centenary of the separation of the colonies was placed at the base of the tree in 1951.

[5] In the 2010 attack the tree was ringbarked and about 90 per cent of the cambial tissue removed.