Scarred Tree

Author

City of Albany

Place Number

16584

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Location

Lot 8054 Nambucca Rs Lower Kalgan

Location Details

Located Reserve in 46135, approximately 800 m N of Oyster Harbour fishtraps This place is Interim Registered with the Department of Indigenous Affairs (date Unknown). The place is not subject to the provisions of the Heritage of WA Act 1990.

Other Name(s)

Swamp paperbark - Melaleuca sp

Local Government

Albany

Region

Great Southern

Construction Date

Demolition Year

N/A

Statutory Heritage Listings

Type	Status	Date	Documents	More information
Heritage List	Adopted	27 Oct 2020

Heritage Council Decisions and Deliberations

Type	Status	Date	Documents
RHP - Does not warrant assessment	Current	10 Sep 2004

Other Heritage Listings and Surveys

Type	Status	Date	Grading/Management		More information
Type	Status	Date	Category	Description	More information
Local Heritage Survey	Adopted	27 Oct 2020	Exceptional	Exceptional Essential to the heritage of the locality. Rare or outstanding example.
Municipal Inventory	Adopted	30 Jun 2001	Category A	Category A • Worthy of the highest level of protection. Recommended for entry into the State Register of Heritage Places which gives legal protection. • Provide maximum encouragement to the owner under the City of Albany Town Planning Scheme to conserve the significance of the place. • Development requires consultation with the City of Albany and the Albany Heritage Advisor. • A more detailed Heritage Assessment/Impact Statement to be undertaken before approval given for any additional or redevelopment • Incentives to promote heritage conservation should be considered.

Statement of Significance

Scarred Tree has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:
This tree is of important Aboriginal significance being representative of traditional cultural and historic practices.
The tree is a rare example of an axe-scarred tree in the Great Southern Region and for the species used.

Physical Description

Some of the notable features of this place include:
• Living tree located in low lying area on the edge of a seasonal swamp (now public open space)
• A Melaleuca - swamp paperbark
• A well preserved example of scarring on the south side of the tree
• Axe marks from both the top and bottom of the scar are still clearly visible
• Original area removed approximately 700mm x 700mm, though there has been some extensive regrowth
• Located approximately 800m north of the Oyster Harbour fishtraps and reflects the broader utilisation of the Kalgan area by Aboriginal people

Some obvious modifications include:
• Land around the tree has been largely cleared for farming and housing development
• Tree collapsed into river

History

This tree was identified by the local Aboriginal community in public open space near a swamp and reported to Robert Reynolds (then Department of Indigenous Affairs) in 2002. It was one of the few examples of an Aboriginal scarred tree recorded in the Great Southern Region and unusual as it is a Melaleuca (paperbark tree) which is not the most commonly used species. The series of steps that have been cut into the eastern face are of human origin. At the time it was recorded it was still in a good state of preservation unlike many other scared trees in the South West region. By 2005 it had collapsed and lying in the river. Water damage combined with the species type potentially won’t afford a long lifespan should it remain in the river.

Integrity/Authenticity

Integrity: High
Authenticity: High

Condition

Good

References

Ref ID No	Ref Name	Ref Source	Ref Date
	Heritage TODAY Site visit and Assessment		1999
	Information provided by the Aboriginal Affairs Department	Albany Division of Aboriginal Affairs Department

Place Type

Tree

Uses

Epoch	General	Specific
Original Use	OTHER	Other
Present Use	OTHER	Other

Construction Materials

Type	General	Specific
Other	TIMBER	Other Timber

Creation Date

21 May 2002

Publish place record online (inHerit):

Approved

Last Update

17 Feb 2022

Disclaimer

This information is provided voluntarily as a public service. The information provided is made available in good faith and is derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate. However, the information is provided solely on the basis that readers will be responsible for making their own assessment of the matters discussed herein and are advised to verify all relevant representations, statements and information.