Type: Public Art Location: Toowoomba City Library Client: Toowoomba City Council Fabricator: UAP

This Noble Tree

This work represents the Hoop Pine in its full-scale grandeur. A symbol of the unique landscape of the Toowoomba range and the accumulation of knowledge and culture held within the Library.

Araucaria Cunninghamii, The Hoop Pine, was identified by colonial botanist Allan Cunningham during his explorations in southern Queensland and New South Wales. Extracts of Allan Cunningham’s expedition report to Governor Darling adorn the inside of the hoop pine arcs above.

This grand tree can grow to 60 metres tall (the length of this space). It has provided for the people of the region in so many ways through time. These trees can live for 450 years and thus a tree standing today could span our lifetime, Allan Cunningham’s, and beyond.

Photography: Roger D'Souza