Bilston's Tree, Dergholm State Forest, Victoria, Australia
Posted by: 
bucketeer
S 37° 22.667 E 141° 19.539
54H E 528831 N 5863167
The world's largest Red Gum
Waymark Code: WM6AGD
Location: Victoria, Australia
Date Posted: 05/03/2009
Views: 8
estimated to contain 910 cubic feet of timber, it was saved from the chain saw in 1962, by a lobby group. Bilston's tree now sits on it's own reserve, an annex to the Dergholm State Forest.
Below is an exerpt from a website located at
(
visit link)
In early June 1962 the Forest Officer, Mr W Flentje, was informed that Pyramid Sawmills had an agreement with Messrs T & J Bilston of Wando Vale to buy and remove red gum from Bilston’s property. In the course of these operations arrangements were made to fell the “Big Tree”.
Mr Flentje, and others, made representations to the sawmillers and Mr T Bilston to have the tree spared. Verbal agreement was reached between the parties to halt the felling.
Representations were then made to the Victorian Government to have the tree reserved. This was achieved on 13 August, 1963, when one acre of land, plus an access easement was purchased from the Bilstons and was designated Reserved Forest by the government.
The tree is now familiarly known as “Bilston’s Tree”. It was measured in 1962 and again in 1971. The following details were recorded in 1971: Total height: 134 feet (40.8 metres) Girth at breast height: 23 feet 10 inches (7.26 metres) Log length: 34 feet (10.36 metres) Log volume under bark: 910 cubic feet (25.8 cubic metres).
A large limb broke off the northern side of the crown in 1973, however this has not affected the general health of the tree which remains a tourist attraction for the Casterton District.