Lost in the forest? No, you’re right on track. We’re here at the base of the Ada Tree. This giant is one of Victoria’s tallest trees. She’s over 300 years old.
The Ada Tree is named after Ada Christina Mortimore. She knew the local Crown Lands surveyor. The nearby Ada River shares her name.
Let’s look up. The Ada Tree towers 76 meters high. Its trunk holds an estimated 820 cubic meters of timber. That’s enough to build 66 average-sized homes. It is the biggest flowering tree in the Southern Hemisphere.
Early timber workers knew the Ada Tree. They left it standing because they believed it was too large to fell with hand tools. They also thought it was too faulty inside to cut into quality timber.
The Ada Tree survived many bushfires and storms. In 1888 a quest sought Victoria’s tallest tree. They identified the “New Turkey Tree” nearby. It measured 99.4 meters.
After the 1983 Ash Wednesday bushfire, forest crews rediscovered the Ada Tree. Peter Woodgate led the assessment. Peter Black mapped the area.
Werner Marschalek and Ray Wright pinpointed the Ada Tree’s location around 1986. These environmentalists built a path to the tree. They used materials from the SEC power station at Loyang. Volunteers worked every other weekend for five years. Even prisoners from Pentridge helped. Werner and Ray worked with local Forests Commission staff from Powelltown.
In 1987, the “Ada Tall Trees Reserve” was created. Joan Kirner was the Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands. In 1993, the Department upgraded the walking track. They built a viewing platform to protect the Ada Tree’s roots.
The easy 3.2 km loop links to the “Walk Into History”. This connects to the old Federal sawmill site. The Ada Tree stands as a testament to nature’s resilience. It also honors the dedication of those who preserved it. Take a moment to appreciate its grandeur and the history it represents.