MuellerIssue Mueller - Champion ofVictoria's Giant trees Bernard Mace' In the year 1895, botanist A. D. Hardy amygdalina as occurs in more open (Hardy 1921) accompanied by the famous country. This species or variety, photographer J. M. Lindt led a party of which might be called Euc. regnans, people to the location of an enormous represents the loftiest tree in the specimen of Australia's tallest tree, the British territory, and ranks next to the Mountain Ash Eucalyptus regnans, on Sequoia Wellingtonia in size any- Mount Monda near Healesville. The party whereon theglobe.' consisted mainly of members of the Later events persuaded him to revise this Geographical Society, and world famous size ranking and to claim giant specimens botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller. ofthe Mountain Ash to be the tallest trees Hardy respectfully named it the 'Mueller in the world. Mueller was an unabashed Tree' in honour of his colleague, even enthusiast for the giant Mountain Ash, but though 'the Baron' had wandered off on he was alsoacutely aware that they were a his own private botanical excursion and rapidly disappearing feature of the was not presentto witness theoccasion. Australian landscape. The plight of the This magnificent tree was later mea- forests in general was already a cause for sured accurately - 64 feet (19.7 metres) concern in the late 1800s. circumference at 6 feet (1.8 metres) above From the earliest days ofEuropean set- ground level, and height of307 feet (94.5 tlement in Victoria, the forests were metres). In the 1930s this same tree was exploited with unprecedented energy and 'rediscovered' by Mr Harold Furmston, an indecent haste. This was particularly true employee of the Melbourne and of those tall eucalypt forests that clothed Metropolitan Board of Works, and was the hills in close proximity to Melbourne, renamed the "Furmston Tree' by the such as the Dandenongs and Kinglake Healesville Progress Association. The Ranges which are now known collectively same tree is still standing and very much as the 'Central Highlands'. The early alive today, although now reduced in explorerscommented on theextraordinary height by decay and wind damage. height ofthe 'tall gums' thatgrew in these Nevertheless, it exudes an atmosphere of areas, butvery few had thebotanical train- mystery and silent dignity, reflecting its ingorinterest torealise thesignificanceof great age, immense proportions and moss- what they were observing. The Mountain covered convolutionsofits buttressed root Ash Eucalyptus regnans, which is the system, thus remaining a fitting tribute to tallest of the eucalypts, predominates the great botanist after whom it was origi- throughout most of this region, and until nally named. the end of the 19th century, the tallest In his work on the identification and specimens in specific locations providing classification of the flora of Victoria, ideal conditions, may well have been the Mueller made a particular study of the tallest trees in the world. However, this Mountain Ash and was responsible for was not recognised until it was too late, naming and classifying the species. In his and the exploitation proceeded unrelent- 'Second Census of Australian Plants' ingly, with very little consideration that (Mueller 1870), he gives the following the forests were being robbed of their description: crowning glory, the giants of the old 'Eucalyptus amygdalina, Lindl. - In growthforest. our sheltered springy (containing The first wave of destruction resulted water springs) lotvsi fk-ns attaining from the activities ofthe 'paling splitters' not rarely a heighi ol over 400 feet, who scoured 'the scrub' to find the tallest there forming a smooth stem and and straightest timber, that, once felled broad leaves, producing a foliage dif- with axe and cross-cut saw, would split ferent to the ordinary state of Euc. cleanly and easily, yielding huge volumes '785MyersCreekRoud,Toolangi.3777 ofpalings and shingles. These were items 198 The Victorian Naturalist MuellerIssue desperately needed and essential to the late, particularly through the miners' development of housing in the new tracks,easieraccesshasbeenafforded colony. It was lucrative business for these to the back-gullies of our mountain forerunners of the timber industry and a system. Some astounding data, sup- popularoccupationamongstpioneers. ported by actual measurements are This rapidly became acompetitive busi- nowonrecord.Thehighesttreeprevi- ness, and the 'splitters' searched far and ously known was a Karri (Eucalyptus wide forthe biggest trees thatwould yield colossea) measured by MrPemberton the highest returns for the hard work of Walcott in one ofthe delightful glens cutting them down. Thus it was that sto- of the Warren River of Western ries began to filter through to the commu- Australia, where it rises to approxi- nity about the huge size of some of the mately 400 feet high. Into the hollow trees. trunkofthisKarri threeriderswithan There was precious little interest, and additional packhorse, could enter and the scantest of records from the early turnin it withoutdismounting. Onthe 1800s, but a few scientists began to take desire ofthe writerofthesepages,Mr reports seriously of exceptionally tall D. Boyle measured a fallen tree of trees. The appointmentofMuelleras State Eucalyptus amygdalina (now known Botanist of Victoria in 1853, and later as as E. regnans - mountain ash) in the Director of the Botanic Gardens, placed deep recesses of Dandenong, and him in the ideal position toreview reports obtained forit the length of420 feet, oftheseenormoustrees andhe wasproba- withproportions indicated in adesign bly the first to fully recognise their ofa monumental structure placed in majesty and botanical significance. He the exhibition; while Mr G. Clein enthusiastically embraced the process of tookthe measurementofaEucalyptus documenting evidence ofthe colossal size on the Blacks' Spur, 10 miles from of the largest specimens of eucalypts. Healesville,480feethigh!' Mueller soon perceived that a precarious This information is highly significant, situation had arisen. He was receiving coming from the botanist who classified sawmillers and surveyors accounts of Eucalyptus regnans and spent so much giant Mountain Ash ofimmense propor- time studying and documenting these tions, while at the same timethe universal magnificent trees. It should be noted that preoccupation of the timber workers was Mueller was a meticulous and indefatiga- ctoousledekfionud.t Caonndsefeqluletnhtelyl,argiteswtatsreeevsitdheenyt btlreavsecriesnetdistthweholseengcotlhleactnidngberxepaedditthioonsf detxheiasIsttntreano1cy8ewe6odw6nasdaMteuberetglhileonefnrsinna(gamMtetuuoerblteeliemvwraealis1td8ahta6bet6ed-i.i7nt)gs bsHsVipceeceicrtcebaoinarmmicreeaei.nduse(mB,eWypirmlleyal1p8noic6rsyot8ne,acodenflhrdyiwnseheCdcixooccalhhelbneeowcdutete1ird9otenh93se3n0)fi0e.an,twe0tH0hote0eof wrtwesiswlttoisithoiutnholierek'ngentltyI:ekusonannl-ehaogynoaubtaftmefnuevsptrdduiheaoeoteicfdsfrletihovbooanicfasertrrsonoubaeeatpfceapnidhhertnyltsiiidbtehcsuocahsteatnrkosashil,vuntneewneeacodootxioywffuoenrnsiolrsydtrroeo,aeselsdfasatgemtttgnlepswhtetydils.ieehanlnotGtetslhdthhrnitieeeeeochoandraennohancuetvinveccoliosi-,ee-ny--fs hCcVtMtittpioahislheahnolechureaguihticstinfionwiamfotgrgotceemerhiaruxhdhnelawlilicei,ednaafiget,mrr.oghowelreAhtedsbyAtmstrioettsaholhonemhtieifegehteiinitot5hrngvnitishe0iehnmeeiao0feetgenmuahvtpsgcrfggaiteogrtrisedrfaioetaeteotttaawhqnrhnta(nteeuetaicn1tesoienc5tsMntisge4taeisao,alnsexulcmghbiqenaaeceynbstuntumtityrdhaomppgceeuiitahlosarlsnrat)tmeaeaots,spestAuseltsaesgeavoradhohonoenis-,,tffd-fnrt jtdVeiheccentTtchoeoreAfieuaamcsnraltlrorytsvarpeeellrelisala,cionneuh,vdsaesoshntaebiinrgegdeachcttooirmoeodens.fpstseihcoenimcaeselulbooy-tt apr1esr0psi0oemrrattfsrie,oienltaylwta(ohsanoruwogpeuhlrnloadfnfeeos3cusd0niodotenamdlae,tlerbveesisiud)nre.gvnecbTyeahosirenssdo 199 Vol. 113 (4) 1996 MuellerIssue 'Mueller'Tree early 1900's. , 200 The Victorian Naturalist MuellerIssue Mueller'Treetoday.PhotocourtesyEraMainka. 201 Vol. 113(4)1996 MuellerIssue doubt played a part. Sometimes standing desired affirmative result was intended to trees were measured using a theodolite or be highlighted at the Centennial clinometer, but even more convincingly, International Exhibition in Melbourne. some enormous specimens were accurate- The size claimed had to be validated by a ly measured by 'tape line' on the ground, qualified surveyor, but this proved to be a where they had either fallen by chance or tall orderin more ways than one. The fact beenfelledbytheaxeman. that strenuous efforts to produce the evi- Contemplating an explanation for the dencethat wouldreap thereward failed, is superior size of Mountain Ash found in often quoted as evidence that Mueller's Victoria, compared to interstate locations, claims were invalid. In fact a professional Muellerwrote(Mueller 1866-7): photographer, J. Duncan Pierce and a sur- 'The enormous height attained by not veyor, C. R. Cunningham were employed isolated, butvastmassesofourtimber to photographand measure as many ofthe trees in the rich diluvial deposits of known giant trees as possible before the sheltereddepressionswithin Victorian 1888 exhibition. The largest tree they ranges, findsits principal explanation, could find was 'The Neerim Giant' which perhaps in the circumstances that the stood 326 feet high (100 metres) and 48 richness of the soil is combined with feet (14.8 metres) girth at chest height. the humid geniality of the climate, Located on a spur of Mt Baw Baw, this never sinking to the colder tempera- was undeniably a huge tree as the photo- ture of Tasmania, nor rising to a graphic records show, but it was still 75 warmth less favourable to the strong feet short of the desired 400 foot mark. development of these trees in New However, E. J. Dowey (Hardy 1923), the South Wales.' timbercutterwholedtheparty tothistree, In other words, Victoria had the unique reported that freezing conditions and the combination of climatic and environmen- poor health of Pierce, meant that rather tal factors that enabled the forest giants to than search out the largest tree in the area, reach their full potential after centuries of they had merely located the closest large development. Largely because of specimen and measured it alone before Mueller's dedicated investigative work, returning quickly to civilisation. He also considerable efforts weremadeto findand asserted that he had found and cut down record the largest surviving specimens in much larger trees in the same area some the late 1800s. Surveyors, forestry work- time afterwards! The record ofthe search, ers and timber mill operators measured in the lead up to the 1888 exhibition can andrecordedthelargesttreestheyencoun- be found in 'Giant Trees Of Australia,' tered and submitted their records to the (Anon 1888), the superb compilation of Herbarium. Several prominent photogra- photographs with minimal text that pherstravelled farand wideto securepho- resulted from the efforts of Pierce and tographic records of the most impressive Cunningham. specimens they could find. Nicholas Caire It is easy to criticise an assertion that (Caire 1905), in particular, became devot- stretches the limits of our credulity or ed to the quest for images ofthe rapidly imagination, but there was little justifi- disappearing giants, to confirm their exis- cation for claims that Mueller was prone tence forfuturegenerations. Unfortunately to exaggerate. He was not alone in report- the extraordinary giants amongst ing the extraordinary height of Victoria's the Mountain Ash were the first to be Mountain Ash. Botanist A. D. Hardy also eliminated. documentedaccounts ofgiantexamples of It is not surprising that claims of the species, sometimes without embarking Eucalyptus regnans attaining such stupen- on exhaustive analysis of the reports dous heights were vigorously challenged (Hardy 1921). Most of the tallest trees from various quarters. For instance, in recorded by Mueller were measured by 1888 arewardof£600wasoffered toany- surveyors, and although there were some one who could prove the existence of a notable inconsistencies, there is nojustifi- tree 400 feet or more in height. The cation for doubting the veracity of all 202 The Victorian Naturalist MuellerIssue reports. None the less, criticismsdid arise, surements.' A sound proposal, but by the and one polite detractor was the State early 1900s it was apparently already too Botanist of New South Wales, J. H. late. He expressed doubts about the size Maiden who took the more conservative claimed for the 'Neerim Giant', 326 feet view point. In The Forest Flora ofNew high, and made dismissive comments South Wales, No. 72, (Maiden 1904-25), about an even bigger specimen that came he wrote: tobeknownasthe 'ThorpdaleTree,' mea- Eucalyptus regnans F. V. M. 'The sured by Government certified surveyor GiantGumTree George Cornthwaite in 1880. This giant A large tree, the largest indeed in from South Gippsland was measured with Australia, though inferior in size to a theodolite at 370 feet high, and then the Redwood, Sequoia sempervirens shortly after was cut down by and the 'Big Tree' Sequoia Cornthwaite's pastoralist brother and Wellingtonia of Western America. more accurately remeasured with a tape Trees about 300 feet high are known lineontheground.Theresultwas375feet inVictoria..' confirmed. This was reported in The Laterin thesamepublicationhereferred Victorian Naturalist, July 1918. Currently toMuellerasfollows: this vanquished monarch is remembered 'The greatest claims to possess the with a pathetic pole, topped with a sign tallest trees of the world have been reading 'THE WORLD'S TALLEST made on behalf of Victoria, most of TREE.' This tree has been referred to in them from Gippsland. In 1862 the GuinnessBookofRecords(erroneous- Mueller wrote to the Seaman's ly) as the tallest hardwood tree in the Journal ofBotany that Mr. D. Boyle, world at 115 metres (375 feet) high. Ifit of Nunawading, near Melbourne, has was still standing, it would be at least 4 measured a fallen tree in the recesses metres higher than the largest Redwood of Dandenong and found it to be 420 stillstanding inCalifornia.Thetallestcur- rently accepted record of a Californian fSeuetr.v'eyorBoyle was apparently discred- Redwood Sequoia sempen>irens is 368 ited at a laterdate afteratree he measured feet (113 metres) and 66 feet (20 metres) at 466 feet was allegedly remeasured at girth at chest height. This fine tree fell tfMa2iawoneemMoorfguxun1orerrqrepegm9aoroeuleelleersnxtleaclylftuhtegilteaoeeererntrifrqrteta,gfte.u.oomsibrmtworcboeeyTgoeideuetPdrhenittp?teheitenththissrdiaieMgw.uthtMrchiamhrauhyssdltaiivEepeihaingldefsghvaimmhliyheenne1eteetiotnd0nsrigar1h0th,nhs0errscgataecpyehoovspenseocfeumseearolu.rgprwncayerlechrbhfeOcaimdemteelnittbnanieehthcevtgptctneeadhitoirrenswoin(ogusbuindaudModraiagtiripsuouodhsspelscpdeccclneydilaaroyleamareftudlrpitcaduhiolleaelmhegiasindnderselt--t- dMttcPmErMbnoHurrehooeexoowoearptrnenhuunehiwoofnzinSrsernwueiibaiwtgtarmgrnveibgearaehm,uastdnersapi'teiiasrrtstdntCfoni(thpuorwitnoebHorrecAarraybtoeepasksmrehvdiknatiadehni,odityn4ywdnlildm0iiaespbMybne1t01cnpdere,ue99hneldiotls19nftabntas22dsbetywyg,.eeuoehotatdodfecuaws1afsrplesr9aefteoeud2Mosncchsnrr1atellergv)iifwwa,a,en£oolmilayeSalrn6bmioa.snetbu0e'rlbddott,ydo0Wlo.hiabesirsewttltertrioshIoaeleagtoe.ie1swfiiihutsna8wTrmnaasorndi8haeonvlrodoli8detms-efyl.td 1885): sectioned into thirteen pieces, each hiS'etneihgqeghuettoa,vilelraenestaatcnthhrdeienergWoeetfnlolot4hiwe0nn0gegtldfooebenCeta,palsiinunfdroepersavnseisiann- eaawpdnapdsrtororxeeiatpmhsoeasrteteemEdlbxylhteiofdbiibfitteneiteo7onn2afeBfseeutteuitnlhnid(ig2inh2n,ggmteerxgtahrrnioesbuspio)ntrdtiIs-nt Mamiodree.n'called for constructi.ve acti.on tno cirDceuspmifteeretnhceeoaptpgosriotuinodnlteoveilh.e notion that sstwerihtelotelul,elbdetmhhebeaeasavster,ugraiutfempdleoensabtssiyt(bltMaeWa,Oisdutieornnvdteea1ykp9oee0rn4a,d-e2sa5nt.tna)ndm.deiwane-g eVodin.cteaoOrrntihea,o'ontfhceehiBshaarcroobn'onutwreeamdspotfrihanearltilayellsveisbtndyitcrtaehte-es 203 Vol. 113 (4) 1996 MuellerIssue name of William Ferguson, who was a be 435 feet from its roots to the top licensed surveyor and in fact the of its trunk. At 5 feet from the 'Inspector of State Forests of Victoria', ground it measures 18 feet in diam- wasassigned the task ofassessing thetim- eter. At the extreme end where it ber reserves ofthe Watts River catchment has broken in its fall, it (the trunk) near Healesville and to report on its suit- is 3 feet in diameter. This tree has ability for proclamation as a State Forest. beenmuch burnt byfire,and Ifully Ferguson investigated 'areas that had not believe that before it fell it must been penetrated by the timber splitter or have been more than 500 feet high. Cthleemweonotd cutHtoerd.gk',iannsdonr,eportAesdsitsotaMnrt bArsidigtenaocrwoslsieasdeitepforravmisne.a'complete Commissioner of State Forests in 1872, This, the 'Ferguson Tree,' may well (Simpfendorfer 1982) that.... have been the tallest tree ever accurately 'Some places, where the trees are recorded by mankind. Ferguson's report fewer and ata lower altitude, the tim- was secretedaway inGovernmentfilesfor ber is much larger in diameter, aver- many years and apparently never came to aging from 6 to 10 feet and frequently the notice of Mueller. This record has trees to 15 feet in diameter are met recently been investigated by Dr A. C. with on alluvial flats near the river. Carder, a retired forester from Canada These trees average about ten per who has investigated tall tree records macorues;.thMeiarnsyizeo,fstohmeettriemeess,thaistehnaovre- GwourilndnewsisdeB,oaonkd oitfisReccuorrrednst.lyTlhiestebdiigngetshte fallenthroughdecayand by bush fires girth ever recorded in Australia was the measure 350 feet in length, with girth 'Bulga Stump' a Mountain Ash from the ssinpuerpecrdiopmowerinttihtohna.ttheIlnatyoanppeeroislntisrntaeatneocneaecIrohmsuesgae-a cTmhaeerasrstauhBreueilgdhgta1,1rae1ngdifeoienttsof(h3oS4loluomtwehtirGneitsep)rpisoglriarnctdoh.ulaIdtt tributary of the Watts and found it to 'comfortably' house 11 horses. The"BulgaStump'.ThelargestgirthevermeasuredinAustralia 204 The Victorian Naturalist MuellerIssue Photographed in 1888, it was already the century. The present status of that dead and broken off, so we can only formerly ideal forest ecosystem is now speculatehowtall itmayhavebeen inits so greatly modified that the grandeur of prime, and unfortunately, it was burned the past may never be seen again. soonafter. Thankfully, the published notes of On balance, it appears that official Mueller and a few other dedicated indi- efforts to confirm the existence of viduals were preserved to inform us of Mountain Ash upwards of400 feet tall, the extraordinary tall trees that once inthelatterpartofthe 19thcentury,were characterised Victoria's Mountain Ash poorly executed and perhaps 20 to 30 forests. years too late. The evidence shows that Mueller was correct inhis assertions and References: well aware of the environmental factors Anon.(1888).GiantTreesofVictoria. that enabled Mountain Ash to reach CaiVricetoNr.ia.i.T(h1e90Vi5c)t.orNioatneNsatournaltihsetG2i1a.n1t22T-r1e28e.s of exceptional heights in Victoria. He and Hardy,A.D.(1921).GiantEucalyptsofVictoria.The some of his contemporaries were ofthe Gum Tree,June, 15-16, (Official organofthe AustralianForestLeague). opinion that most of the great trees had Hardy, A. D.(1923).TheMeasuringofTall Trees. already been destroyed by the paling TheVictorianNaturalist39,166-175. splitters, or by the fires that followed HarVdiyc,torAi.anD.Nat(u1r9a3l5i)s.t5A1u,st2r3a1l-ia2'4s1.GiantTrees. The European settlement, by as early as 1860 Maiden,J. H. (1904-25)Fo/-es;FloraofN. S. W., (Mueller 1885). Subsequent timber Part72. Mueller, F. V. (1870). 2ndCensus ofAustralian harvesting practices and policies gave Plants. neither recognition nor protection to the Mueller,F.V.(1866-67).AustralianVegetation.Part tallest trees in the world. Even those 5Meolfbotuhreneof.ficialrecord.Intercolonial Exhibition, giants thatmay have survived in protect- Mueller, F. V. (1889).Letterto TheArgus', May ed water catchments were probably 25. destroyed by bushfires, which increased SMuiemlplfecrn,doFr.feVr.,(1K8.8J5.).(1S9e8l2e)c.t'EBxitgraTrTereospiicnalViPcltaonrtisa.'. in frequency and intensity as a Willis, J.H. and Cohn, H.M.(1993). Botanical consequence of human activities and ExplorationofVictoriaIn'FloraofVictoria'.Vol.1. Eds D.B. Forman andN.G. Walsh. (InkataPress: modifications to the environment. Melbourne). Consequently, the most magnificent botanical feature of Australia's wilder- ness was effectively lost by the turn of FOREST CONSERVATION Isproeiglarodrthteo fdoervesatstaastaen, hbeurtitatgoebgeivweinsteoluysubsyedn,aturreev,ernoetntfloyr Shonoured, and carefully maintained. I regard the forests as a fgiftho^^tpruascteedof[stiicm]e,totoanbye osfurursenodnelryedfotrotproasnts*iaerinttycaagraeinduarsianng unimoaired property, with increased riches and augmented Tto'pass as'a sacred patrimony from generation to generation. K Mueller (1871) nfcrdafi^^ •Forestcu.tureir 205 Vol. 113 (4) 1996 MuellerIssue I 2 g o Im t*o. rn 1 •a o to "3 \2 IS 'eo 13 o u § a O<Sn m jg B in a o u fi 'C oo « ir-n *to03 c — -u>o?> sto QVuI aCD Eo 2 O 13 z Hz in c3 >OS60 Q6« a >.co 1 •ua l|3 |o $ >*© 0OsX-3) 3CO *« —•£ H £3 •**O- 1 H^ a ^ -S CO C/3 "ja3* oi- *o- S 3 o *> fr<2 t> I O au 12- u ft .3 2 S >.<a >-, >. E U U (0N\ £ T3 "O 4f3t Jf3t H a & 3 3 d J o o Sse,23ss <U 60 O O c •J Ph 2 Ja3. Ja3. 3 o tc os s S. m <Z zz'^c ign \t~q~ mE o10 Hea a o t§-o<H>p{w?=«"6>^ Os os ovrms>- _^sc_J'oo^ms-o *pTmf- o<»esnnn J2^w=5 tb-uojc^oeD *2w O£ O5^iSn_io-E*o 4d1i*=n-* 8 * Q 1 11 1U5S§HSo u ab Si O;s MorTfc CO Si * as CO -» CO 2,_,2tui £u UH o 2 CO LOtu0«Sn1Z«Sa-bHS_cc8m Zs1cUtIcaojWH''co%£Z1oIc s&o oH8SoI"HSz§38 OSCCQO "rlild ".U55g J.9|C5^fath,U2ctK3h* Cw2+*fgoO-t ug C6O0 206 The Victorian Naturalist — ^ MuellerIssue >u> 00 a a3. u O o •a a Wl 00 ^c^ fs «3 >f5r 3pp o o soo. fcj tq a> c si 6 e 5b o 2 p w oo •p S C o .^>a3 ou u pH *u 4o-> 2 •IXa 4HO3 "bfat s55co35 .•ocg3o Tu.oul3a ^7u§—> j•Soor 4o3 <3 •a Sj-j < < Su3 0j;3*>> Ip 1 TU3 It5o to Cm Q<+H oo(N -a To3 i toUos. o9O T3 5o >* is* > 1 I5 og •23S °i X ^* S 2 "1 o e ^^o < E £ 00 m *(-osj r_<„l *_« pin S <c E~« E E'-o b£ so e g.6- e s m d m • Vol. 113 (4) 1996