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Tree Information x

Identifier: WKR/1262
Tree Type: Single
Registered By: Cadwallader, B.G.
Registration Category: Notable tree – National interest
General Notes:
Historically considered the largest bunya pine in New Zealand and thought to be associated with John Sharp's nursery, the first nursery established in the Waikato[1].
John Sharp arrived in Cambridge about 1873. He married Eliza Vincent in Hamilton in February 1875 and they had nine children. They established an orchard on the Hamilton Road just out of the borough and John became very well known as a nurseryman. He was the originator of the 'Sharp's Early' plum (Prunus salicina, 43178). and in 1884 showed 400 varieties of apples at an Auckland show. In 1885 he had a jam factory built on his property and in 1895 was chairman of the Waikato Fruit Growers' Association. Many of Cambridge's trees, hedge plants and shrubs have come from John Sharp's nursery[2].
The tree is now marginally larger (girth) than the largest known tree (see Kaikohe tree NR/0945) but the national crown still remains with the Tauranga tree (see BPR/1025) with 341 combined points (Cadwallader, 2015).

References:
1) Burstall, S.W. & Sale, E.V., Great Trees of New Zealand, pg. 76
2) Cambridge Museum Biographies, John Sharp

Single Tree Details

Genus: Araucaria
Species: bidwillii
Common names: Bunya Bunya, Bunya pine
Height: 23.00m
Height measurement method: Laser Nikon Forestry 550
Height Comments: (none)
Girth: 571 cm
Girth measurement height: 1.4 m
Girth Comments: The bark roll at the edge of one of the fissures complicates getting an accurate measurement.
Diameter: 181.8 cm
Crown Spread A: 17.00m
Crown Spread B: 17.00m
Avg. Crown Spread: 17.00m
Actual Planting Date: actual date not specified
Approx. Planting Date:
e.g. circa. 1860
Current Age: not known years
Tree Health Description: A full canopy but has several fissures on the main stem
Tree Form Type: Single Trunk
Number of Trunks: 1
Tree Form Comments: Typical of the species. Branching to ground level
Champion Tree Score: 314
Local Protection Status: No
Tree Present: Yes
STEM Score: 0

Observations

Date Observer Action
19 Oct 2014 Cadwallader, B., Collet, G., Davies, H. & Jobbit, R.

Location

Lat/Long: -37.86219444023807 / 175.39916804484403
Location Name:
Address: 1292 Cambridge Road
Suburb:
City/Town: Tamahere
Region: Waikato
Location Description: Able to be seen from the front boundary. No public access.
Public Accessibility: Rural-Residential
Local Authority: Waikato District Council

Images

Preview Credit Date
Brad Cadwallader 19 Oct 2014
Brad Cadwallader 19 Oct 2014
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