2023 Tree of the Year
CONGRATULATIONS to the 2023 South Australian Tree of the Year - "Old Man Barker"!
Announced by 20 Metre Trees, the River Red Gum won by a large margin and is estimated to be up to 300 years old. Old Man Barker is located near the southern exit of the SE Freeway at Mount Barker.
This fantastic River Red Gum, is located near the southern exit of the SE Freeway at Mt Barker. With a trunk circumference of 7.3m, it is a fantastic example of a Eucalyptus camaldulensis and won with a sizeable margin.
“Old Man Barker” is estimated to be up to 300 years old and stands as a silent sentinel keeping watch over the ever-growing population of Mt Barker and neighbouring districts. It is so unassuming and unobtrusive that many people probably take it for granted as they exit the South Eastern Freeway heading toward Mt Barker, Totness, or Littlehampton. It has withstood the tests of time (storms, lightning strikes, humans) and as such is not the most pretty, well-formed tree, but as a result has many hollows supporting all sorts of native wildlife (possums, birds, bats, insects and reptiles).
Fallen branches have been left at the base of the tree to provide further habitat. Through its life it has witnessed massive change, from pre-European settlement to the massive population boom the area is currently undergoing. Imagine the importance this tree would have been as a food source for the traditional custodians of this land - possums, birds, bees, grubs, lerps, etc. As the tree shows signs of scaring, the bark may also have been used for shields or food vessels. Its ecological value was and is undeniable. Somehow, unlike many of its contemporaries, it survived the construction of the South Eastern Freeway in the 1970s and now exists in a small pocket of reserve adjacent to the Mt Barker bridge.
Along with all its other attributes, it plays an increasingly essential role in removing carbon dioxide from the air at this busy road intersection. It is now, however, under imminent danger of being felled to make way for road expansion. River Red Gums rely on a good supply of water and are most at risk to climate change and decreasing rainfall. Therefore, it is unlikely that saplings will survive to maturity in this area of the hills. Therefore, these remnant trees, which are some of the biggest trees in our district, should be retained and treasured. I am nominating ‘Old Man Barker’ because it is a character tree, iconic to the area and one of the last big river red gums in the immediate vicinity.
Also, because it is under threat of being cut down at a time when we should be actively moving away from car centric thinking and designing and doing things which mitigate rising temperatures, loss of biodiversity and address climate change. To me it symbolises the past, present and future of our natural environment, along with the fight we are having to save our trees across the Mt Barker district.
Species
Eucalyptus camaldulensis
Diameter from 1M above ground
7.3m
Location of tree: Adelaide Road, Mt Barker. Adjacent southern exit from the SE Freeway approaching Mt Barker and Littlehampton.
ABC Adelaide Green Adelaide Trees For Life (SA) Conservation SA TREENET National Trust - South Australia