The 'Tree of Knowledge' was planted on Arbor Day 1896 by Mrs Elizabeth Downing who lived on the farm that was originally the Mount Helen Site. When the site was purchased in 1966 the architects and planners inspected the site and decided 'The Big Tree' must remain as a central landmark in preparing the layout of the campus.Photograph of the 'Tree of Knowledge', a Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus glubulus labillo), located at the Mount Helen Campus of Federation University. The tree is registered by the National Trust,federation university, federation university australia, feduni, university of ballarat, mount helen, tree of knowledge, big tree, blue gum, mount helen campus

The 'Tree of Knowledge' was planted on Arbor Day 1896 by Mrs Elizabeth Downing who lived on the farm that was originally the Mount Helen Site. When the site was purchased in 1966 the architects and planners inspected the site and decided 'The Big Tree' must remain as a central landmark in preparing the layout of the campus.Photograph of the 'Tree of Knowledge', a Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus glubulus labillo), located at the Mount Helen Campus of Federation University. The tree is registered by the National Trust,federation university, feduni, university of ballarat, mount helen, tree of knowledge, big tree, blue gum

The 'Tree of Knowledge' was planted on Arbor Day 1896 by Mrs Elizabeth Downing who lived on the farm that was originally the Mount Helen Site. When the site was purchased in 1966 the architects and planners inspected the site and decided 'The Big Tree' must remain as a central landmark in preparing the layout of the campus.Photograph of the 'Tree of Knowledge', a Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus glubulus labillo), located at the Mount Helen Campus of Federation University. The tree is registered by the National Trust,federation university, federation university australia, feduni, university of ballarat, mount helen, tree of knowledge, big tree, blue gum, mount helen campus

Federation University Mount Helen Campus was open to students in 1970. In that year Mr Dowling as photographed beside a big Tasmanian bluegum which was used a the centre Mount Helen Campus concept plan, and later became known as the Tree of Knowledge. Mr Dowling watered the tree after it was planted by his mother, Elizabeth Downing, on Arbour Day 1896. Mrs Downing raised her large family on the site of the Mount Helen Campus, which included an orchard and milking cows. The Tree of Knowledge is actually two trees, the trunks have fused together over time, and there is further evidence of fusion. The Downing farmhouse was situated in the vicinity of the present Administration and Caro Conference Centre buildings and the tree was planted beside the "dunny". It was carefully watered by the nine Downing children from a brick-lined well situated under what is now the Albert Coates Building. As the tree grew to maturity, it was used to hang a meat safe after slaughtering a sheep for the family table. Some years ago, when the foundations were being dug for the E-Building, an old rusted percussion pistol was found. One of Mrs Downing's sons, at that time well into his nineties, remembered getting into trouble for playing with it without permission, and losing it. The land was purchased in 1966 as part of a 241-acre site for Ballarat's new tertiary institution. When the architects and planners inspected the site, they decided "The Big Tree" must remain as a central landmark in preparing the layout of the campus amenities. In 1982, the spread of the tree was 36 metres, girth 7 metres, and height 36 metres. By 2003 the spread was 39.5 metres (N-S) and 35.5 metres (E-W), girth 7.75 metres, and height 42.5 metres. A man in overalls and jacket stands beside the Federation University Tree of Knowledge. Stage one buildings on the Mount Helen Campus are evident in the background.elizabeth downing, downing, tree of knowledge, big tree, mount helen campus, mount helen

The Tree of Knowledge in the central feature of the Mount Helen campus.A large tree known as the Tree of Knowledge on Mount Helen Campus.tree of knowlege, big tree, mount helen campus

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University of Ballarat is a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia.Class photograph at Mount Helen in front of the Tree of Knowledge.university of ballarat, commerce, dean gordon, brett ellis, juston wightman, peter baker, graeme fish, russell keith, drad de jong, travan greenbank, craig rumble, arjuna wimalasuriya, david kefford, sau fong tang, pei lin lim, john di pietro, chung tin chung, jacinta frith, tree of knowledge

Colour photograph of the E.J. Barker taken from near the Tree of Knowledge.e.j. .barker library, mount helen library, mount helen campus, tree of knowledge, brutalism, brutalist

Views of the Mt Helen Campus during the time of the construction of the first buildings. The Tree of Knowledge is evident.mount helen, construction, tree of knowledge, mt helen campus, big tree, establishment

The sod for the Mount Helen Campus was turned in 1967, and students first studied on campus in 1970. In 1973 the Union Building (Building 'U' now the Albert Coates Centre) was completedSix black and white photographs showing external views of the recently completed Union Building (Coates Centre) on the Mount Helen Campus of Federation University Australia. .1) Union Building north entrance, part of library on right, 'S' building in back. .2) Union Building north west corner, residences in background, two males. .3) Union Building north west corner, student residences in background .4) Union Building north west corner, view towards library .5) Union Building north entrance, part of library on right, 'S' building in back. Shows earthworks for the Electrical engineering building ('E' building)federation university, federation university australia, feduni, university of ballarat, ballarat college of advanced education, albert coates, albert coates centre, union building

Its twisted old trunk is gnarled, its disembowelled carcass plump with cement and now, like many outback legends, its cadaverously pale and very dead. It has stood, an unmolested leafy sentinel, over Barcaldine’s Railway Station depot since the 1880s. It was a living Australian Labor Party memorial and heritage-listed. The double centurion, Oak Street’s most senior resident, was respectfully nursed into its dotage by Barcaldine’s faithful. Countless thousands of travellers photographed it, patted it and peered up at its bushy green tops with dutiful reverence. ... And then, by an act of craven foul play, it was murdered. Allegedly. Cold, hard forensic science pronounced death by poisoning. Sometime around May Day 2007 they reckon. (Australian Travellor, November 25, 2007.)Photograph of Philip and Elizabeth under the Barcaldine Tree. It was in the shade of this tree the Australian workers rallied and the Australian Labor Party was formed after the ramifications of the great shearers strike in 1891.barcaldine tree, australian labor party, chatham-holmes family collection

This photograph was taken on the occasion of the retirement of Jack Barker, Foundation Director of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education. It was a tribute to mark his outstanding services to the Ballarat School of Mines and Ballarat College of Advanced Education from 1949-1987. * 1949-1960 Lecturer/Head of Department * 1960-1964 Vice-Principal * 1964-1976 Principal * 1976-1987 Foundation Director of Ballarat College of Advanced Education The staff of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education stand in the 'shadow' of the 'Tree of Knowledge'. The photograph was taken at 3.55 pm on 27 August 1987.jack barker, e.j. barker, retirement, tree of knowledge, thelma rungkat, frank martin, jack harvey, gerry anderson, martin westbrooke, stafford mcknight, graeme ambrose, roy schrieke, barbarat crump, loris button, arch mackinnon, henry moritz, geoff wallis, helmut stenzel, michael gustus, trevor hastings, ian hemingway, george fong, george fong wah, greg binns, dave jelbart, arthur burros, alison lanigan, zig plavina, i. lepp, pat hope, derek woolley, peter fryar, david addenbrooke, robert morrell, alan webb, richard croggon, anne beggs-sunter, thelma runghat, denis shanahan, frank harrap

In 2014 This building is known as the Albert Coates Building at the Mount Helen campus of Federation University Australia. Six black and white photograph of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education Union Building under construction at Mount Helen. The Tree of Knowledge is in the background. ballarat institute of advanced education, union, union building, coates building, mount helen, tree of knowledge, big tree, under construction

Large colour photograph of University of Ballarat staff at Mount Helen taken under the Tree of Knowledge on the retirment of Vice-Chancellor David James. colour photograph, ub staff, david james, terry wong, gwenda mcmanus, meg tasker, barry wemyss, frank williams, kerry cox, kevin livingston, jack harvey, koji hoashi, gerry anderson, deb lord, rowena wallace, robert hook, andrew segrott, paul bennett, kerry daniels, bill casey, ray farnsworth, lloyd stinton, tree of knowledge

Black and white image of the walkway between the E.J. Barker Library (L Building) and E Building. The tree in the distance is the tree of Knowledge, and the small wall near the walkway is a pond which has been removed. mount helen, mount helen campus, tree of knowledge, walkway, library, pond

Students are photographed under the Tree of Knowledge, Mt Helen CamousPostcard size photograph attached to paper. Names of student around photo.management students, tree of knowledge, mt helen campus, pascal soderi, zoran dimovski, bruce mccallam, stuart king, tony souar, richard deans, andrew harker, stephan vranesic, deane ellwood, glen miller, russell mcbeach, andrew smith, martin doull, randal perry, gerard broad, tony preston, phill holloway, michael hilderbrand, jeff westmore, andrew charalambous, earl wallace, brian duncan, darren trigg, joe motta, michael nolan, matthew weblo, david beard, richard hulse, michael walsh, gabriele boehle, andrew gray, tony klein

Staff are photographed at the Tree of Knowledge which is on the grounds of the Federation University, Mt Helen Campus.1 Colour photograph of staff .2 Names of people in photograph .3 Names of people in photograh .4 Black and white photograph with people numbered. T be read with .2 & .3federation university, mt helen, campus, tree of knowledge, business school, faculty, planning day, mary hollick, bob o'shea, helen ross, ian clark, veronica boast, sihun shao, chris swan, emily loh, debbie lord, vicki bethall, vicki bethall, karen axford, ailsa brackely du bois, jackie tuck, helen weadon, alan labas, erick holm, rowan kenney, damian morgan

Five colour photographs showing snow on the Federation University Mount Helen Campussnow, mount helen, federation university, e.j. barker library, tree of knowledge, mt helen campus

The Federation Wall is often photographed during graduations. This photo was taken during lockdowns during the Covid19 Lockdown.Colour photograph of the Federation Wall at Mount Helen campus.e.j. .barker library, mount helen library, mount helen campus, tree of knowledge, covid19, pandemic

These photographs were taken during the Covid19 lockdown. The photographer was one of two people working in the library to ensure books were supplied to staff and students. Photograph of snow at Mount Helenmount helen campus, snow, tree of knowledge, e.j. barker library, covid19, pandemic

The University of Ballarat was granted a Coat of Arms from the College of Arms in London. The grant has five parts: the Shield, the Crest, the Supporters, the Motto and the Badge. The origin of the University Arms is based on the history of the University and its antecedents. The earlier institutions include the School of Mines and Industries, the Ballarat Teachers' College and its successor, the State College of Victoria at Ballarat. Significance A Coat of Arms signifies the heraldic achievements of an individual or community. The University of Ballarat's Coat of Arms symbolises the golden past of the City of Ballarat and the former institutions, the School of Mines and Industries Ballarat Ltd and the Ballarat Teachers' College, which came together to form the University. At the same time, the motto 'dare to be different', presents a challenge to everyone in both the University and the region to strive for new ways of achieving.A Coat of Arms signifies the heraldic achievements of an individual or community. The University of Ballarat's Coat of Arms symbolises the golden past of the City of Ballarat and the former institutions, the School of Mines and Industries Ballarat Ltd and the Ballarat Teachers' College, which came together to form the University. At the same time, the motto 'dare to be different', presents a challenge to everyone in both the University and the region to strive for new ways of achieving.An image of the University of Ballarat Heraldic Device as depicted on the front cover of the University of Ballarat 1999 Annual report, and the transparent representation from the inside of the same report. university of ballarat, coat of arms, heraldry, heraldic device, tree of knowledge

Black and White photographs of the Mount Helen Campus under construction. .1) Preparing for the site of the Student Amenities Building (now Albert Coates Centre). View from the north-west, from the site of 'S' building. federation university, federation university australia, feduni, university of ballarat, mount helen, construction, big tree, tree of knowledge, mount helen campus