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FEDERAL OAK
PARLIAMENT HOUSE GARDENS, 110-160 SPRING STREET MELBOURNE, MELBOURNE CITY

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Victorian Heritage Register
1 federal oak parliament house gardens melbourne front view
1 federal oak parliament house gardens melbourne front view
1 federal oak parliament house gardens melbourne front view
1 federal oak parliament house gardens melbourne plan
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Statement of Significance

What is significant?

The Federal Oak, an Algerian Oak (Quercus canariensis), was planted by the Premier of New South Wales, Sir Henry Parkes (1815-1896), in February 1890 to commemorate the Australasian Federal Convention of 1890-91. The Oak is situated in the Parliamentary Gardens, which were first planted in 1865. In 1885 they were extended after land was purchased at the north east of the Parliamentary Reserve from St Peter's Church of England. A garden layout was prepared by Peter Kerr the designer of Parliament House. In about 1888, William Guilfoyle, Director of the Melbourne Botanic Gardens, redesigned the gardens and the planting was well established by 1892. The layout, including the Federal Oak, today conforms to this design.

How is it significant?

The Federal Oak is of historical significance to the State of Victoria.

Why is it significant?

The Federal Oak is of historical significance for its associations with the Australasian Federal Convention, the first meeting of statesmen from the colonies to agree to the concept of Federation. The conference also signalled the beginning of the constitutional conventions designed to frame a Federal Constitution.

The Federal Oak is of historical significance for its associations with Sir Henry Parkes, an important figure in Australian political history. Parkes first entered the New South Wales parliament in 1854 and first became Premier in 1877. He initiated numerous reforms and formed his fourth ministry in 1887. From 1889 he was a key figure in the federal movement and is regarded as the Father of Federation.

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    • History

      FEDERAL OAK - History

      Contextual History:History of Place:

      The Federal Oak was planted by Sir Henry Parkes in 1890 to commemorate the Australasian Federal Convention of 1890-9. The Parliament Gardens, in which the tree is located, were established in the 1860s as part of the new parliamentary precinct. They were extended and redesigned by William Guilfoyle in the late 1880s. Intially managed by the Parliament House Trust, the gardens were handed over to the Melbourne City Council in the 1930s.
      Associated People: Sir Henry Parkes

      Permit Exemptions

      FEDERAL OAK - Permit Exemptions

      General Exemptions:

      General exemptions apply to all places and objects included in the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR). General exemptions have been designed to allow everyday activities, maintenance and changes to your property, which don’t harm its cultural heritage significance, to proceed without the need to obtain approvals under the Heritage Act 2017.

      Places of worship: In some circumstances, you can alter a place of worship to accommodate religious practices without a permit, but you must notify the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria before you start the works or activities at least 20 business days before the works or activities are to commence.

      Subdivision/consolidation: Permit exemptions exist for some subdivisions and consolidations. If the subdivision or consolidation is in accordance with a planning permit granted under Part 4 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987 and the application for the planning permit was referred to the Executive Director of Heritage Victoria as a determining referral authority, a permit is not required.

      Specific exemptions may also apply to your registered place or object. If applicable, these are listed below. Specific exemptions are tailored to the conservation and management needs of an individual registered place or object and set out works and activities that are exempt from the requirements of a permit. Specific exemptions prevail if they conflict with general exemptions.

      Find out more about heritage permit exemptions here.

      Specific Exemptions:

      EXEMPTIONS FROM PERMITS:
      (Classes of works or activities which may be undertaken without a permit
      under Part 4 of the Heritage Act 1995):

      The process of gardening and tree maintenance in accordance with Australian
      Standard, Pruning of amenity trees AS 4373

      Emergency and safety works

      Repairs and maintenance to hard landscape elements, buildings and structures,
      drainage and irrigation system

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