A remnant River Red Gum used as a reference marker by the Government surveyor Robert Hoddle has been added to the Victorian Heritage Register.
The tree was used by Hoddle in April 1844 as he surveyed the now suburb of Kew. It is thought to be over 300 years old.
The Hoddle Survey tree grows on the south bank of the Yarra River in the grounds of the Kew Golf Course. It is the earliest known survey tree remaining in the State.
Known and fixed reference points were critical to the surveying of the land. Hills or tree were often used prior to modern surveying techniques.
Robert Hoddle was a central figure of surveying, cartography and geography in Victoria. The period 1837 to 1851 saw much survey work by Hoddle and his survey team. He is best remembered for laying out the central grid design of Melbourne’s CBD, known as “Hoddle’s Grid”.
The Victorian Heritage Register is the official listing of the more than 2000 places and objects which have been assessed as significant to the State of Victoria. The listings provide the State’s highest heritage protection and mean changes require a permit from Heritage Victoria.