Since 2016, the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) has highlighted some majestic trees around the state by announcing the Victorian Tree of the Year. And 2024 is no different. This time, a towering Mountain Ash known as the ‘Mount Fatigue Giant’ has been named as the 2024 Victorian Tree of the Year. Located in the Gunyah region of South Gippsland, roughly three hours away from Melbourne, this mighty tree is a whopping 46 metres tall. Its trunk girth is 18.85 metres, and it has a nice canopy spread of 20 metres.
Victorian Tree of the Year 2024
This particular Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) was first documented in the 1980s. It’s standing tall in the Strzelecki Ranges, in the lands of the Gunaikurnai People. The Mount Fatigue Giant is a marvellous example of one of the world’s tallest flowering tree species. This particular old-growth tree has survived both fire events and logging threats, which are both challenges faced by forests in the South Gippsland region.
It was crowned as the winner of the Victorian Tree of the Year competition, and received over 20 per cent of votes from the community. This competition celebrates the important role that trees play in our lives.
“The Mountain Ash is not only awe-inspiring in its scale but is also an ecological powerhouse,” said Justin Buckley, Executive Manager of Gardens & Landscapes. “These trees are vital to the health of our forests, supporting life in the canopy above and on the forest floor below. This recognition by the public highlights the importance of protecting these iconic trees as a legacy for future generations.”
This year’s runner-up was the Moonah (Melaleuca lanceolata) in St Leonards. It’s one of the oldest known Moonah in Victoria, and received 17 per cent of the public vote. In third place was Brighton’s Moreton Bay Fig (Ficus macrophylla), which was donated by Baron von Mueller of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria to the church in the 1860s. It received 14 per cent of votes.
Register of Significant Trees
The National Trust of Australia (Victoria) has a Register of Significant Trees. The register first began in 1981, and it has recorded over 30,000 trees across 1,500 locations around the state. These trees represent the largest and longest-living life forms encountered. By recording significant trees around the state, the National Trust can advocate for the conservation of these incredible natural assets. The Mount Fatigue Giant was officially classified as a Significant Tree by the National Trust in 2018.
To find out more about the Tree of the Year, click here.