Other Significant Trees

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For decades the Algerian Oak has been free to grow and flourish without pruning. This explains the natural shape and unusually low sweeping branches of the tree. It has a large canopy spread and large trunk circumference.

The Algerian Oak is growing close to the cobbled bluestone track that leads to the ford that was once used to cross the creek. This crossing and the track fell into disuse when Kerrins Bridge was constructed over Birch’s Creek in about 1883. It’s believed the tree was planted near the crossing before 1883 so it would be around 140 years old.

‘We used to swim in the creek at Kerrins Bridge, when I was a kid’

Bullarook Streamside Reserve is a beautiful place and has been open for the public to enjoy for many years. There is a track leading off Kingston-Werona Road that leads down to the creek. The track is rough and fairly steep at the entry. For many years, the primary school students from Kingston Primary School were active in planting trees and caring for the Bullarook Streamside Reserve.

These days, Bullarook Streamside Reserve is a peaceful haven for wildlife. There are regular sightings of wallabies, echidna, birds and the occasional wombat. In years past, koalas have also been seen in the Reserve. There are platypus and blackfish in Birch’s Creek, including at Kerrins Bridge. In addition to the Algerian Oak, there are a number of old trees in the Bullarook Streamside Reserve, including the copse of trees at Kerrins Bridge.

The Algerian Oak (Quercus Canariensis) is native to southern Portugal, Spain, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. These trees have evergreen lobed leaves which are similar to the leaves of the English Oak but Algerian Oaks are more tolerant of drought and hot weather.

Kerrins Bridge was listed in the Building Citation in the Creswick Shire Heritage Study prepared for the National Estate Committee and the Shire of Creswick. The bridge has a traditional keystone arch constructed from bluestone. The bridge is subject to Hepburn Shire Council Heritage Overlay 109.

In 2023 the Algerian Oak was listed as significant by the National Trust of Australia. The Algerian Oak is significant for its beauty and connection to settlement for farming in the area.

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The former Holy Trinity Church at the crossroads on Church Parade is a landmark in Kingston, surrounded by old trees, including Gigantic Sequoia. The old trees in the church grounds are significant for their beauty and connection to settlement for farming in the area.

A friendly wager was taken between two members of the congregation at the opening of the bluestone church when Gigantic Sequoia seeds were planted. There was a bet that each would grow faster than the other’s.

The seeds came from Ballarat Botanical gardens, after being transported from the Californian goldfields.

Sequoia trees are known as one of the world’s largest trees. They can withstand tough conditions and pests. Despite the huge size of the tree, the cones of the Gigantic Sequoia are quite small.

Holy Trinity Church was designed in the austere gothic style by architect, Leonard Terry (1825 to 1884). Leonard Terry designed many churches for the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as banks and other notable buildings.

The land for the Holy Trinity Church was donated by the Birch brothers. The church opened in 1864 and closed as a church in 1964.

Although the church is now a private residence, the Gigantic Sequoia can be seen from the road.

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It’s believed this pine is one of the Aleppo Pines gifted to schools by Legacy Australia after World War I.

The Aleppo Pine (Pinus Halepensis) has significance for Australian and New Zealand soldiers dating back to the Battle of Lone Pine during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I. One solitary pine survived on the battlefield and when the battle was over, a Victorian soldier, Sergeant Thomas Keith McDowell, collected pinecones from the area and brought them home to Victoria. Seedlings grew from the cones, and one was planted at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. From this tree, Legacy Australia propagated 1,000 seedlings to be gifted to schools, including Kingston Primary School.

Kingston Primary School number 759 is one of the oldest school buildings in Victoria. It is found at 360 Kingston Road, Kingston. Victoria, 3364. The school opened on 16 January 1865. The school had between 100 and 160 pupils in the early days. Kingston Primary School closed in 2004 and it’s now a private home.

As well as the Aleppo Pine, an outstanding example of a mature Victorian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus) can be found growing on the roadside directly in front of the old school.

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