Planted by a visionary, the Federal Oak stands before us, a silent witness to the birth of a nation. Here, on March 27, 1890, Sir Henry Parkes, the “Father of Federation,” planted this tree. It commemorates the Australasian Federation Conference held at Parliament House in Melbourne. This conference, attended by representatives from Australia’s six colonies and New Zealand, was a pivotal step towards the unification of Australia. The Federal Oak, a Quercus canariensis, also known as an Algerian Oak, wasn’t just a symbolic gesture. It was meant to be a living embodiment of the growing spirit of unity. Ironically, a newspaper article from the Freeman’s Journal, published shortly after the planting, questioned the choice of a British oak. Why not a native Australian tree, like a gum tree, to represent this burgeoning nation? The article pondered whether the oak symbolized a continued “slavish dependence” on Britain. Regardless of the initial controversy, the Federal Oak took root, growing alongside the dream of a unified Australia. It has witnessed the evolution of this nation, from its colonial beginnings to its modern, independent identity. The Federal Oak, now over 130 years old, stands tall and proud in the Parliamentary Gardens. It reminds us of the visionaries who shaped Australia’s destiny, and the enduring power of unity and collaboration.
Kororoit Creek
Is this where the river meets the sea? This is Kororoit Creek. It flows right here through Melbourne’s western suburbs