From Carlton to Castlemaine, the National Trust of Victoria competition aims to raise awareness about trees.
A decades-old eucalyptus, an elm beloved by thousands of commuters, and a type of gingko once thought to be extinct in the wild are among the finalists for Victoria’s tree of the year.
To be eligible, the trees must be listed on the National Trust tree register000 trees in Victoria for their cultural, scientific value.
The executive manager of gardens at the National Trust, Justin Buckley, said the trees nominated for the registry have been there for generations, and the people who nominated them often remember playing under them and climbing them, along with their children.
Although flooded gums only naturally grow north of Newcastle, and especially in wet areas like the Daintree, this specimen most likely planted in the 1960s or 70s in Carlton North is a landmark of pride for the community.
The ginkgo was planted in Geelong Botanic Gardens in 1859, and is more than 167 years old.
Planted by 1867 Jacob Bernstein, a member of Ballarat’s Hebrew community, this Canary Island pine is the second-eldest recorded tree among the finalists and is a recognisable feature in the landscape of Ballarat.
The competition is the trust’s most successful advocacy campaign and helps bring awareness to trees in Victoria, Buckley said.
Voting for the competition closes at midnight, 22 October, with the winner announced on 27 October.