Greytown’s historic giant gum tree was planted 1856 and needs important bracing work to remain safe and live a long life on Main Street.
Wellington
One of the Wairarapa's most well known and interesting trees needs our help - we are working to raise $10,626 for a bracing system that will preserve the magnificent Giant Gum for years to come.
As the first town in New Zealand to celebrate Arbor Day, trees have an extra special place in the heart of Greytown - New Zealand’s Most Beautiful Small Town.
Known to locals as the ‘St Luke’s Gum Tree’, the historic Eucalyptus Regnans on Greytown’s Main Street was planted by Samuel Oates in 1856 who carried the seedling from Wellington over the Rimutaka Ranges in a wooden wheelbarrow.
It was destined for the property of Charles Carter (the founder of nearby Carterton) but legend has it the three year old seedling was stolen from the wheelbarrow while Oates was in the bar of the Rising Sun Hotel. One of the seedlings was subsequently planted in the churchyard of St Lukes, where it remains to this date.
As one of the most significant and oldest trees in the Wairarapa and Wellington Region the tree has immense landscape and heritage value. The tree is also featured in New Zealand’s notable tree register.
The tree has two trunks at the ground level and these trunks need to be secured with static bolts to ensure the tree remains safe in its prominent location next to State Highway 2. Without this bracing the tree will eventually have to be cut down.
The tree is on St.Luke’s Church ground and we are requesting donations from businesses and the public to assist with the cost of preserving this wonderful tree. We aiming to fund raise $10,626 to cover the costs of the required tree support system.
Don’t let this 161 year old tree be cut down!
We appreciate donations of any amount.
Richard is the financial manager for St Lukes Church and the church will be the beneficiary of the funds raised in this campaign.
We aim to raise $10,626 for static bracing which will be performed by skilled arborists at Arb Innovations Limited. If we raise excess funds they will go toward a canopy reduction which is not essential right now but will help the tree in the long term.
Goal Achieved! 20 August 2020
Thank you to everyone who donated to this cause. With several donations outside of the Give a Little platform we've raise managed to raise the full $10,626 needed to save the Giant Gum Tree.
Thank you Charli & Drew. We totally agree, "the tree" is a Greytown icon.
Thank you Shona! We really appreciate it :)
Wow! An incredibly generous donation. We respect your request for privacy but still want to say thank you so much :)
Thank you very much Guest Donor :)
Thank you Ali. We couldn't agree more!
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