15 colour slides labelled "Transplanting" and "TP '95". Transplanting a large tree using machinery.TP'95arboriculture, machinery, transplanting trees

This old apple tree situated beside the Plenty River Trail at Greensborough has been associated with Melbourne Founder John Batman. Known as Batman's Tree, this apple tree is on the bank of the Plenty River near Leischa Court, Greensborough. It is said that Melbourne Founder John Batman may have planted the tree and later signed his treaty here with the Aboriginal people. It still bears fruit and its recorded on the National Trust's Register of Significant Trees, as the oldest apple tree in Victoria. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p7 Was This John Batman's Tree? An apple tree on the bank of the Plenty River near Leischa Court, Greensborough, is believed to have belonged to Melbourne’s founder, John Batman. It could also stand where John Batman signed his famous treaty with the Aboriginal people.1 Known as Batman’s Tree, it still bears fruit and is recorded on the National Trust’s Register of Significant Trees, as the oldest apple tree in Victoria. It is ‘Believed to have been planted by either John Batman, (c1837) or Martin Batey (1841)’.2 In 1966 a Horticultural Adviser, Mr Rolfe, after extensive questioning of aged Greensborough residents, wrote: ‘it thus seems fairly certain that the old tree on the banks of the Plenty River is an original Batman apple tree’. Mr Rolfe said that the tree stood on a spot formerly called Wattle Bend: ‘one of the sites claimed to be where John Batman signed his famous treaty with the aboriginals. ‘My main source of information has been interviews with people who attended school in the Greensborough area from 70 to 80 years ago. Their parents were close to the days when Melbourne was founded so information passed on by word of mouth.’ Around 1920 the tree was struck by lightning and a concrete block was placed in the split. The concrete is inscribed with the date 1841 when the tree was thought to have been planted. Not everyone agrees with Mr Rolfe however. Former secretary of the Nillumbik Historical Society, Kevin Patterson, said there was no written evidence to support the claim. But he said the tree had been known to locals for decades as Batman’s Tree. In the 1920s a holiday resort in the area advertised: ‘Come to Greensborough and see John Batman’s tree’. Mr Patterson said it was thought that when Batman died in 1839 his land was sold and a Greensborough man Frederick Flintoff bought seedlings from his orchard for £1 each. This was the only one left.3 Mr Rolfe said: ‘If planted in 1837, or even a few years later, it undoubtedly is the oldest living apple tree in Victoria. Title records of the property on which the tree grows show that the land was a crown grant of F D Wickham in 1840. Mr Wickham was reputed to be a friend of John Batman. All the early settlers prior to the crown grants were squatters, by virtue of Batman’s treaty. This treaty was revoked by the then New South Wales Government, so it is likely that Wickham or an agent was in occupation before 1840. ‘According to Mrs Mavis Latham (John Batman – Great Australian Series, Oxford University Press) when Batman came to Port Phillip in 1835 he brought fruit trees with him. He failed to get a crown grant for his selection on Collins Street, which included 20 acres (eight ha) of orchard and cultivation. His residence became the Government Office and Melbourne grew from wild bushland in 1835 to a town of over 20,000 people by 1841. It is possible Batman visited Wickham and presented him with a tree.’ However a Flintoff descendant in 1933 said Frederick Flintoff ordered his bailiff Martin Batey to transplant the Batman Tree from the Spencer Street orchard to its present site as a memorial to his friend Batman.4 Mr Rolfe spoke to many people, including descendants of the Bateys and Flintoffs and pupils at the Greensborough Primary School. Many had gained their information from a ‘very highly respected’ head master Lewis Amiet at the Greensborough School from 1895 to 1917. He must have gained this information from residents in the district and had this information been incorrect, the parents of the children would have promptly corrected him.’ One woman who attended the school before Mr Amiet’s appointment, said the previous teacher also taught that the tree on the Plenty River was a Batman tree, Mr Rolfe said.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, greensborough, john batman tree, plenty river trail

``Newspaper clipping from "The Mail", 10-10-95, P 3. Bushlinks Community conservation group Maroondah Bushlinks staged a "plant rescue" on Sunday at Barnsdale Forest on Loughnan's Hill. Certain trees were removed and transplanted to Loughies Bushland and others will be taken to local community nurseries`

A collection of documents relating to the Batman apple tree and those men associated with it: Martin Batey, Frederick N. Flintoff and Johannes Adam Bosch.Documents relating to possibly the oldest apple tree in Victoria. The tree was allegedly transplanted from John Batman's orchard in Melbourne to the banks of the Plenty River in Greensborough circa 1841, by Mr Flintoff.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the 'Batman' Apple Tree in GreensboroughCollected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.batman apple tree, greensborough, martin batey, frederick flintoff, johannes bosch

Three images depicting features of the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens. .1) Colour photograph of the refurbished Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens, showing the centenary plaque. .2) Plaque on the Norfolk Island Pine which was in the possession of Jessie Knox Smith for 22 years (she was the sister of Professor Alfred Mica Smith). It was transplanted in memory of Professor Alfred Mica Smith. .3) View of the Ballarat School of Mines Botanical Gardens.2) 'Norfolk Island Pine (Araucaria Excelsa) This tree was in the possession of Miss Jessie Knox Smith, sister of Professor Alfred Mica Smith for 22 years. Transplanted in memory of his long membership Past Students Association"ballarat school of mines botanical gardens, botanical gardens, anniversary, centenary, norfolk island pine, alfred mica smith, jessie knox smith, past students' association, system garden

An 80 year old weeping elm tree was removed from Wunderlich Tile Factory, Mitcham Rd to Campells Croft Reserve costing $17,000 which caused displeasure at a meeting at the Council of Nunawading.An 80 year old weeping elm tree was removed from Wunderlich Tile Factory, Mitcham Rd to Campells Croft Reserve costing $17,000 which caused displeasure at a meeting at the Council of Nunawading.campbells, croft, trees, city of nunawading, wunderlich tile factory, elm trees