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Tree Information x

Identifier: WTR/G1875
Tree Type: Group
Registered By: Lloyd, M.
Registration Category: Historic tree/s – Local interest
General Notes:
Relative to other North Island towns and cities the Wellington region does not have a large number of Phoenix palms, making this row of eight one of the more impressive ‘avenues’ in the region.
The palms line the entrance way to the main block of the Hutt Valley Hospital which was completed in 1945 (MacKenzie, 1983). The palms are very uniform in height and are in excellent health, obviously being well maintained by the Hospital grounds staff.
An aerial photograph taken by Whites Aviation in November 1951 shows the young palms the drive just five years after they were planted on Arbor Day, August 14, 1946. As reported in the local newspaper at the time, those undertaking the planting along with other trees in the hospital grounds were Mr. Toogood, chairman of the Board; Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt; Miss N. M. Knight, acting-Matron-in-Chief, Wellington Hospital; Dr. J. Cairney, Superintendent-in-Chief. Wellington Hospital; Dr. W. G. Fogg, medical superintendent Hutt Hospital; Mesdames Knox, Gilmer and Blake, Messrs. W. Toomath and W. J. Gaudin, members of the Wellington Hospital Board; Nurses Paton and Robertson, representing the junior trainees; Mr. E. Hay, representing the City Council; and Mr. E. Hutt, superintendent of reserves (Lloyd, M. 2023).

References
[1] Craig MacKenzie, 1983, Hospital in the Valley: The story of the Hutt Hospital. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press.

[2] Photo credit: Lower Hutt, showing hospital in centre, Wellington. White’s Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-29771-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23259395

[3] Planting of Trees, Arbor Day at Hospital. Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 11, 14 August 1946, Page 7. https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/HN19460814.2.26

Group Details

Group Type: Single species
Feature Tree Genus: Phoenix
Feature Tree Species: canariensis
Feature Tree Common Names: Canary Island date palm, phoenix palm
QE II Covenanted: No
NZ Indigenous Bush type: Default Value
Actual Planting Date: Aug 1946
Approx. Planting Date:
e.g. circa. 1860
Current Age: 78 years
Tree Health Description: excellent
Local Protection Status: No
Tree Present: Yes
Number of Trees: 8
Area Covered: 50 metres
Group of Tree Type: Amenity Planting

Observations

Date Observer Action
26 Mar 2023 Lloyd, M.

Location

Lat/Long: -41.203655965348155 / 174.92533598222636
Location Name: Hutt Valley Hospital
Address: 638 High Street
Suburb: Boulcott
City/Town: Lower Hutt
Region: Wellington
Location Description: Driveway into Hutt Hospital
Public Accessibility: Hospital
Local Authority: Hutt City Council

Images

Preview Credit Date
Michael Lloyd 26 Mar 2023
Michael Lloyd 26 Mar 2023
Whites Aviation Ltd WA-29771-F. Alexander Turnbull Library 01 Nov 1951
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