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Pechey Forestry Arboretum Print
The Pechey Forestry Arboretum is a plot of heavily treed land which retains seven of the original twenty-four species of exotic pines planted in the late 1920s.
The 4.5 hectare Arboretum is located on the New England Highway south east of Perseverance Dam Road within the Pechey State Forest, Number 909. The Arboretum lines the highway for approximately 300 metres and the site has a depth of 150 metres. The Arboretum is approximately 500 metres from the entrance to the Perseverance Dam Road and is bounded by forestry roads which serve as firebreaks. The overall condition of the place is reasonable although infested with weeds.

History. In 1910 the Forestry Department started to use exotic pines in their plantations. Plots of land were chosen to determine suitability of species in particular climate, soil type and topography conditions.

Forestry from the air
Pechey Forestry from the air
The initial areas of the Pechey State Forest were purchased from the estate of EW Pechey by the Forestry Department in 1926. Under the guidance of Elton Sharman, establishment of plantation areas was commenced in 1927. The land was to supply miscellaneous hardwood, case timbers and future plantation softwood for the Darling Downs market. A nursery was established on the site in 1927. As one of the many trial plantings throughout Queensland to determine the potential for a broad range of species for timber plantation purposes within State Forests the Pechey Arboretum was established in 1928.

Cultural Heritage. The Arboretum is listed in the Queensland Heritage Register, for the following reasons:

1. The Forestry industry has played an important role in the economic, social and historical development of the Queensland. The Pechey Forestry Arboretum demonstrates the phase from the 1920s when plots were planted for scientific and research purposes to develop and encourage diversity within the Forestry industry.
2. The Arboretum has the potential to yield further information about the establishment of arboreta, a field of significant research to the agricultural development of Queensland, about which little research has been done.
3. The Arboretum has scientific significance and demonstrates the principle characteristics of scientific plots, in particular, it represents the optimum development of plots which were planted in the 1920s.

(The Queensland Heritage Register is a list of places or buildings of cultural heritage significance in Queensland. Developed under the Queensland Heritage Act 1992. Information above is from EPA website: http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/cultural_heritage/)

Results. 25 species were planted. around 1929. The trial was terminated in 1977. Pinus radiata (Monterey Pine), Pinus patula (Mexican Weeping Pine) and Pinus taeda (Loblolly Pine) were the three species which were fairly well adapted to the area. Most of the trees now in the neighbouring plantations are Radiata Pine.

Friend of the Arboretum. For more information, ring Rod Smith 07 4698 1321.
 
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