One of Beechworth's 150-year-old Sierra Redwood trees has died and will be removed from the Town Hall Gardens due to safety concerns, marking a sad chapter in the town's botanical history.
The tree was part of an historic stand planted in 1875, believed to be a gift from renowned botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. The remaining redwoods have been cherished landmarks in Beechworth for generations, forming an important part of the town's heritage.
Council has confirmed that while the decision to remove the tree is difficult, it is necessary to protect visitors to the popular gardens.
To safeguard the remaining Sierra Redwoods, Council has implemented a number of protective measures. Temporary fencing has been installed around the garden bed to reduce foot traffic through the sensitive root zone and prevent the spread of soil-borne pathogens that threaten tree health.
Significant remediation work has already begun, including air spading to relieve soil compaction and improve drainage and the application of targeted treatments to boost the trees' resilience, including phosphite soil drenches to suppress Phytophthora root rot and Phoscap® stem injections for long-term protection and nutritional support.
These treatments are part of a broader strategy to preserve the remaining trees. Council will continue to monitor their condition closely and adjust its approach as needed.
