Canary Island palms (4), cotton palm, Monterey cypress
1342 Main Road ELTHAM, NILLUMBIK SHIRE
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Statement of Significance
ELTHAM STUDY STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE:
This species of tree are typical and highly fashionable garden plants of the era. The rather informal planting of these trees is unusual and perhaps a sign of planting a collection of trees rather than designing a garden. All the specimens are in good health and contribute significantly to the streetscape.
REVISED STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE (with AHC criteria)
The CANARY ISLAND PALMS (4), Cotton PALM, Monterey cypress (golden) at the former Francis C McDonald property are significant to the Nillumbik Shire:
- for their rarity as a group of mature palms in the Shire context;
- for the rarity of the cotton palm within the Shire;
- for the group's avocation of a popular planting style, particularly after WW1.
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Canary Island palms (4), cotton palm, Monterey cypress - Physical Description 1
ELTHAM STUDY DESCRIPTON:
Four palms located in the front garden of this property with the single thread (or cotton) palm set back toward the rear south-east corner of the property and almost no other planting. The layout is asymmetrical and quite unusual. The Canary Island palms are typical with a robust rough textured trunk and long fronds and all about 10 metres tall and the thread palm is tall with a slender trunk and frond stoZ rn long.
REVISED OR EXTENDED DESCRIPTON:Since the study the house has been demolished and replaced with residential units of an unrelated character. The planting remains but has been compromised by close ' proximity to new buildings. The property also includes 2x 'Cupressus macrocarpa' var 'Aurea'. '. .
'Phoenix canariemsis' This massive palm from the Canary Islands growsto'50.ft(15 m) tall with a spread of 30 ft (9m), and has a sturdy trunk up to 3 ft (1 m) across and arching, deep green fronds up to 12 ft (3.5 m) long. Small yellow flowers in drooping clusters in summer are succeeded by inedible, orange-yellow, acorn-like fruit. This palm needs plenty of room to show off its dramatic symmetrical shape. In areas prone to frosts, plant an advanced specimen when the danger of frost has passed {Botanica}.
'Washingtonia robusta' This species, taller and more slender than Washingtonia filifera and with a more tapering trunk, occurs naturally in north-western Mexico. It grows to 80 ft (24 m) and its crown is 10ft (3 m) across. The shiny, bright green leaves, almost circular, are less deeply segmented than those of .W. filifera'. The fruit are tiny dark brown berries {Botanica}.
'Cupressus macrocarpa' var 'Aurea' Endemic to a very short stretch of the central Californian coast near Monterey, this grows into one of the largest of all cypresses, reaching 120 ft (36 m) tall with a trunk' diameter of 8 ft (2.4 m). When planted in a grove it forms a tall, straight trunk, but in the 'open in good soil it branches low with massive, spreading limbs producing a broad,dense crown of deep green with a rather spiky outline. Close up, the foliage is rather coarse, and it has a slightly sour smell when bruised. The cones are large and wrinkled.
It thrives best in cool but mild climates with winter rainfall and takes only 10 years or so to form a dense 30-40 ft (9-12 m) tree. Golden cultivars include 'Brunniana', somewhat columnar, the foliage ageing almost green; the vigorous 'Aurea', with long, golden spikes of foliage spreading almost horizontally; and 'Aurea Saligna' with remarkable weeping, gold-tipped branchlets and elongated scale leaves. A lower-growing cultivar to 4 ft (1.2 m) is 'Greenstead Magnificent', which spreads to form a flat-topped, dense mat of pale green-green foliage, drooping around the edges; as the plant ages the whole becomes raised above the ground on a short trunk. 'Goldcrest' is a small conical form with golden foliage {Botanica}.Canary Island palms (4), cotton palm, Monterey cypress - Integrity
Trees substantially intact/some intrusions- site damaged by new development.
Canary Island palms (4), cotton palm, Monterey cypress - Physical Conditions
Good (partially disturbed, wellpreserved)
Canary Island palms (4), cotton palm, Monterey cypress - Historical Australian Themes
PRIVATE PLANTING
Heritage Study and Grading
Nillumbik - Nillumbik Shire Heritage Study 2001
Author: Graeme Butler & Assoc
Year: 2001
Grading:
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