River Red Gum Saplings Continue Burnside Legacy

In a bid to continue a famous lineage, the City of Burnside has recently undertaken a treeplanting initiative in Hazelwood Park, in conjunction with Burnside Village, by planting 12 new juvenile River Red Gums.

River Reds are native to Australia and are highly valued for their striking appearance and contribution to the ecosystem. These majestic trees can grow up to 30 metres in height and offer numerous ecological advantages, including providing habitat for various wildlife species, aiding in soil erosion control and purifying the air.

However, the dozen saplings are not from any ordinary River Red Gum, these saplings were harvested from the famous gum around which the current iteration of Burnside Village was framed.

The 18-metre tree, which was removed from Burnside Village in 2013, was beloved by the Burnside community and will now be able to live on for future residents through the next generation.

Director of Burnside Village and the Cohen Group, Andrew Cohen said the former tree was linked to the history of Burnside Village, the Burnside community, and his family, and as such was an important legacy to maintain.

‘These tree saplings are now replanted in Hazelwood Park for the community to enjoy,’ Andrew said.

‘Perhaps in time when the tree canopies are grand enough, I may sit in the shade and recount this story to my children and their children.’

Harvested by Burnside Village and provided to the City of Burnside, the saplings were raised in a council nursery for over a year and provided with all the necessary resources to thrive, before making the journey to their new home in late June.

Now mature enough to handle life outside in the elements, and firmly planted in a cluster on the northern side of Hazelwood Park, the 12 juvenile trees are adjoined by an irrigation system and will be monitored by the City of Burnside Parks Team moving forward.

Friends of Hazelwood Park member and volunteer at Koala Rescue Joylene Fraser said the community response to the saplings had been overwhelmingly positive.

‘This is rather special to so many of us and a celebration of that majestic gum living on,’ Joylene said.

‘We are always in favour of more trees.’