Subject
ContributeThe inaugural Arbor Day in Australia was held in Adelaide’s south parklands on 20 June 1889 following the first ‘arbor day’ in Nebraska in the United States in 1872. The proposal was backed by several South Australians, including parliamentarian John Cockburn, Bureau of Agriculture Secretary Albert Molineux, Conservator of Forests John Ednie Brown and Friedrich EHW Krichauff, a prominent advocate of scientific agriculture and forestry. Concerned about the rapid loss of vegetation across the South Australian landscape and the need to conserve soils and assist pastoral sustainability, Brown prepared a report on the ‘desirableness for the establishment of an Arbor Day’. After a parade of some 5000 Adelaide school children and dignitaries, a parade of the participants from Victoria Square, the governor, Lord Kintore, and his wife, planted a Bunya Bunya (Araucaria bidwillii) and a Weeping Scotch Elm (Ulmus pendula) that grow today. Representative groups of pupils planted trees in designated areas. While this event has not continued, 100 trees were planted at an Arbor Day centenary ceremony on 20 June 1989 near the original site.
Media
Add mediaFirst Arbor Day Celebration
Images
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: B 1699/A, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/01750/B1699_A.htm, Public Domain
People
Images
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: B 22103/111, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/mpcimg/22250/B22103_111.htm, Public Domain
History SA. South Australian Government Photographic Collection, GN01429
History SA. South Australian Government Photographic Collection, GN01446
Image courtesy of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA
South Australian Arbor Day Celebrations
Images
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/36/59, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/36/PRG280_1_36_59.htm, Public Domain
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/14/65, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/14/PRG280_1_14_65.htm, Public Domain
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/7/254, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/07/PRG280_1_7_254.htm, Public Domain
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/10/391, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/10/PRG280_1_10_391.htm, Public Domain
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/36/105, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/36/PRG280_1_36_105.htm, Public Domain
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/11/462, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/11/PRG280_1_11_462.htm, Public Domain
Image courtesy of the State Library of South Australia, SLSA: PRG 280/1/15/324, http://images.slsa.sa.gov.au/searcy/15/PRG280_1_15_324.htm, Public Domain
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That's not something we have details on I'm afraid Kathleen, but it might be possible to unearth in the City Archives if the information was recorded - https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/community/creativity-culture/city-arch...
I believe Sturt Street school children were the first to plant in the Park Lands--the "State School" named in the photo on this page; do you know where the original trees are that still remain from these plantings?
That's fantastic Brenda, glad to hear you can still visit your tree.
Henley Primary School celebrated Arbor day when I was a child. Every child in my class planted a Norfolk pine tree, the lucky few outside their own house. The tree I planted is still outside the house where my sister now lives in Henley Beach and every time I visit from UK I take great pride that I planted that tree.