Greytown’s Historic Gum Tree Needs Our Support - Literally!

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.