Oliver Lees
The Melton Botanic Garden has added a new member to its eclectic flora collection with the planting of a lone pine tree, a species that is famous for populating the Gallipoli Peninsula where Australian troops landed in 1915.
The Turkish pine tree has taken pride of place in the Mediterranean Region section of the Melton Botanic Garden, which features plants from other areas including Portugal, Greece and Spain.
The title Lone Pine stems from the decision of the Turks to cut down all of the native pines along the peninsula except for one, in order to construct trenches.
The tree is symbolic in war memorials across Australia and today there is a Lone Pine Cemetery in Gallipoli.
Friends of Melton Botanic Garden president John Bentley said it was an exciting addition to the public space.
“As curators, we’re focused on the pant collection and we felt we were missing the main one,” he said.
“The idea behind the Mediterranean garden is to feature places that have similar climatic systems to Melton.”
The Lone Pine was donated to the Melton Botanic Garden by Mt William Advanced Tree Nursery in Lancefield.
