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Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve
off Essex Street MAIDSTONE, Maribyrnong City

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Essex St trees
Essex St trees
Essex St trees
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Statement of Significance

Canary Island date palm rows and the oak, Johnson Reserve, are significant to the City of Maribyrnong:
- as distinctive and mature trees which are uncommon within the general planted context of the City, judged by their maturity, type and numbers ( Criterion B2);
- for their contribution to this distinctive inter-war public landscape created within the City under the noted Footscray municipal parks and gardens Curator David Matthews ( Criterion A4, H1).

Australian Heritage Commission (AHC) criteria

The Australian Heritage Commission criteria consist of a set of eight criteria which cover social, aesthetic, scientific, and historic values. Each criterion has sub-criteria written specifically for cultural or natural values. The relevant criteria are:

B.2 rarity

A.4 demonstrates well the course and pattern of history, important historic events

H.1 association with important person or group

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    • Physical Description 1

      Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve - Physical Description 1

      Long rows of mature Canary Island palms as border to grassed open reserve. There are also oak (large), elm and ash trees. There are 6 palms on the north side, 21 on the west side, and 7 on the south, a total of 34 palms.

      This massive palm from the Canary Islands grows to 50 ft (15 m) tall with a spread of 30 ft (9 m), and has a sturdy trunk up to 3 ft (1 m) across and arching, deep green fronds up to 12 ft (3.5 m) long. Small yellow flowers in drooping clusters in summer are succeeded by inedible, orangeyellow, acorn-like fruit. This palm needs plenty of room to show off its dramatic symmetrical shape. In areas prone to frosts, plant an advanced specimen when the danger of frost has passed {Botanica}.

      Physical Conditions

      Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve - Physical Conditions

      good (partially disturbed, well preserved)

      Integrity

      Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve - Integrity

      substantially intact/some intrusions

      Physical Description 2

      Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve - Physical Description 2

      Context
      Located around an open grassed reserve with little detailed landscape otherwise, inter-war and Edwardian-era housing in area, with some basalt kerb and channel in View St.

      Historical Australian Themes

      Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve - Historical Australian Themes

      Thematic context
      Australian Principal Theme Developing cultural institutions and ways of life
      PAHT Subtheme Creating landscape
      Local Theme(s) Reserves and parks

      Physical Description 3

      Canary Island date palm rows and oak, Johnson Reserve - Physical Description 3

      Map (Melway) 41H2
      Boundary description The trees and sufficient land around each to allow for root zone and canopy
      protection, nominally 1m beyond the drip line, root zone or canopy perimeter which ever is the greatest.
      Heritage Significance City
      Creation date(s) 1935-40c
      Local Government Area City of Maribyrnong
      Ownership Type Public

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Heritage Study and Grading

      Maribyrnong - Maribyrnong Heritage Review

      Author: Jill Barnard, Graeme Butler, Francine Gilfedder & Gary Vines
      Year: 2000
      Grading:

Public contributions

Note: Developments may span multiple time periods
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