Level of Significance
- File
- Local
- Regional
- State
- National
Age (approx)
100yrsTrees
1Diameter
1mHeight - 8m
Details
- Horicultural/Genetic (Scientific)
- Seed/Propagation Stock (Scientific)
- Outstanding species (Scientific)
- Contemporary association (Social)
- Park/Garden/Town (Historic)
- Person/Group/Institution (Historic)
- Attractive (Aesthetic)
Statement of Significance
The tree is of scientific and horticultural value and is an important source of seed and propagating stock as it is the parent tree of one of two Australian-grown, officially endorsed, macadamia cultivars and as such is a rare example of its species. The H2 Hinde tree has played a key role in the success of Australia’s macadamia industry, as the parent of most rootstock used to propagate the large majority of commercial orchard macadamia trees in Australia. An orange metal tag, attached in 1948 by the Department of Agriculture & Stock, identifies the tree as a parent tree.
The tree is associate with Michael James Hinde whose family was instrumental in establishing the macadamia nut industry and is an important part of his historic orchard. It is an old tree and a great example of its species.
History
After settlement, the Nerang and Coomera Rivers became thriving timber industry areas as loggers sought the prized cedar wood. The wood was tied together in rafts and floated down the rivers to meet ocean going sailing ships. The Gold Coast developed sugar cane and fishing industries. Many of the sugar cane growing areas later became farms. Michael James Hinde selected this land that runs along the Nerang River in 1879. He established a macadamia orchard and planted this tree from a seedling growing in the area.
There were three species of macadamia tree growing on Colliston, and one outshone the others for commercial use. It became known as the H2 Hinde tree. The H2 Hinde tree on Colliston is the parent tree from which all other clones of this variety were propagated. The H2 Hinde variety is the dominant stock kept by nurseries, and it is estimated that 90% of all grafted commercial trees stem from this species of macadamia. The H2 Hinde tree on Colliston is the parent from which all other clones of this variety have been propagated. Since World War II, the macadamia nut industry has become Australia's largest bush foods industry and dominates the world macadamia export market.
The Queensland Heritage Register states - 'H2 Hinde Tree is historically significant to the commercial development of the Australian macadamia nut industry, particularly its establishment phase from the 1960s to the 1980s. The H2 Hinde tree has played a key role in the success of Australia’s macadamia industry, first as scion wood, and in the last twenty years, as the parent of most rootstock used to propagate the large majority of commercial orchard macadamia trees in Australia. An orange metal tag, attached in 1948 by the Department of Agriculture & Stock, identifies the tree as a parent tree.'
Location
The tree is situated in a corridor of trees running north to south that divides the block in two in this area.