Source : Perth Now news
Two of Perth Zoo’s oldest residents have reached a remarkable milestone, with two towering Norfolk Island Pines celebrating their 125th birthday.
The huge 45m-tall trees, affectionately known as the Duke and Duchess Pines, were planted at the South Perth zoo in 1901 and are among the oldest trees on the site.
The trees were planted during the first royal tour of Australia by a future British monarch, when the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall visited Perth Zoo.
The couple later became King George V and Queen Mary.
“The royal party arrived by barge from Parliament House, just across the river, and made their way to the highest point of the Zoo,” Kath said.
“Known at the time as ‘the hill’, the site was chosen for its sweeping views across Melville Water and the Swan and Canning rivers.”
“While the Duke planted his tree himself, it’s reported the Duchess received a helping hand from government official Sir John Winthrop Hackett,”
“In those days, it wasn’t considered proper for royal ladies to get their hands dirty!”
The trees were selected by Perth Zoo’s head horticulturalist at the time, Henry Steedman, who recognised their potential to become striking features of the zoo’s botanical estate.
The Norfolk Island Pines were also selected as they were believed to be well suited to Perth’s coastal climate, allowing them to flourish over the past 125 years.
The trees which are roughly the height of a 12-storey-building are located on the outskirts of the Australian Bushwalk habitat.
Perth Zoo was originally established as Perth’s first botanical garden, making the trees an important part of the site’s heritage.
The pines, which are still in excellent health and are looked after by the zoo’s horticulture team, can live for up to 400 years.
