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CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM AVENUE
MT ALEXANDER ROAD, ESSENDON, MOONEE VALLEY CITY

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Mt Alexander Road Canary Island Date Palms.JPG
Mt Alexander Road Canary Island Date Palms.JPG
Mt Alexander Road Canary Island Date Palms.JPG
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Statement of Significance

The Canary Island Date Palm Avenue is included on the Victorian Heritage Register (H1200) with the following statement of significance:

What is significant?
The avenue of 143 Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) along the median strip of Mt Alexander Road was planted in about 1929 following relocation and duplication of the tram tracks. The planting is the largest and longest single planting of Canary Island Date Palms in Victoria.

How is it significant?
The Canary Island Date Palm Avenue in Mount Alexander Road Essendon between Shamrock Street and Leake Street is of aesthetic and historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?
The avenue of 143 Canary Island Date Palms is of outstanding aesthetic significance and landscape value. The planting provides an important landmark and avenue planting along a major arterial road to central Melbourne and on each side of a central tram line. The good condition of the palms, and their uniform size, regular spacing and formal planting arrangement contribute to the importance of the avenue.

The avenue is historically important as the most substantial avenue planting of Canary Island Date Palms in Victoria. As such it is reflective of a particular period of popularity of palms in the 1920s, especially Phoenix canariensis.

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    • Physical Description 1

      CANARY ISLAND DATE PALM AVENUE - Physical Description 1

      This avenue comprises 143 mature Canary Island Date Palms (Phoenix canariensis) along the median strip of Mount Alexander Road in Essendon between Shamrock Street and Leake Street. The palms are planted in a line on either side of the central tram reservation. The planting is the largest and longest single planting of Canary Island Date Palms in Victoria.

      The avenue extends for 820 metres in the Mt Alexander road reserve. The palms are planted opposite one another. Shamrock Street to Thistle Street; West - 27 palms, East - 27 palms; Thistle Street to Thorn Street; West - 24 palms, East - 22 palms; Thorn Street to Marco Polo Street; West - 11 palms, East - 11 palms; Marco Polo Street to Leake Street; West - 10 palms, East - 11 palms

      The measurement of an average palm is; Circumference: 3.0m; Height: 7.5m; Canopy Spread: 7.2m (1985). The two rows are 13.4m apart and the palms are at spacings of 8.3m.

      The palms are planted in a grassed median in three of the islands , while the northern island has been asphalted and is used for car parking. Fortunately the palms show no ill affects. The two rows of palms are planted to either side of two sets of central tram tracks laid in bluestone gravel edged with bluestone blocks. Down the centre is a row of tram poles erected in 1929, but with new side arms.

      The palm avenue is in good condition. Annual maintenance includes the under pruning of dead fronds and the removal of seedlings from the crown. The major weed is Copromsa repens.

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Moonee Valley - Moonee Valley Heritage Overlay Places Review

      Author: David Helms Heritage Planning
      Year: 2012
      Grading: State

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