Tree of the Month

Each month we showcase an iconic or loved tree in Holdfast Bay. The tree of the month aims to increase the awareness of the value of trees in the City of Holdfast Bay, highlighting the important role trees play in our city such as shade, cooling, clean air, fauna habitat, wellbeing and connection to nature.

Species: Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum)
Family: Myrtaceae
Origin: : SA, WA, Vic, NSW, Qld, NT, ACT
Flowering time: Summer
Flower colour: White
Purpose: Habitat, ornamental, shade
Canopy cover (approximate shade provided): more than 15 metres
Approximate age: 50 years old
Estimated amenity value: $324,967

If you’ve visited the Holdfast Bay Community Centre in the past week, did you see one of the property’s trees has been chosen as our Tree of the Month for May?

The 50-year-old river red gum now bears a large Tree of the Month medallion – which was added to the tree with the help of Kim Mead, from Sensory Fun for Little Ones, and one of her young friends.

Kim uses the space around the tree, with its 15 metres of canopy shade, for nature play activities with pre-school aged children, and this tree often forms the centre point of this play.

There’s also a large magpie nest in the tree’s high branches, which children and visitors to the community centre are invited to try and find.

With care and maintenance, after 20 years, this tree could potentially:

• offset 28,406 kilometres worth of CO2 emitted from the average petrol-powered passenger vehicles
• absorb enough stormwater to fill 2,242 bathtubs
• remove an amount of pollution from the air – in gaseous and particulate form – equivalent in weight to 220 smartphones

Is there a tree that you love or that you think deserves recognition in the City of Holdfast Bay? Take the time to nominate it by completing the form below.