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Statement of Significance

The rich, fertile soil, temperate climate, and the interest of many of its citizens in things botanical, has resulted in Toowoomba Region’s ability to grow a wide range of indigenous and non-indigenous plants. In 1860, the area was the first to hold an Agricultural Show in Queensland – 15 years before Brisbane. Walter Hill, the then Government Botanist and first curator of the Brisbane City Botanic Gardens, travelled to Toowoomba to advise with the design and planning of Queen's Park and street plantings in Toowoomba. He subsequently imported many tree species from Europe, Asia and other parts of the world to be planted there. Hill Street in Toowoomba is named in his honour. The town attracts many visitors in September for its famous Carnival of Flowers, where people come from near and far to enjoy Toowoomba’s many parks and gardens. Mr Samuel Stephens (a Toowoomba businessman and major public benefactor) purchased ten acres (4 hectares) of house blocks in 1931 and developed it into planted parkland. He donated it to the citizens of Toowoomba in 1934. Whilst developing the park, Stephens had an interest in plants from south-east Asia and imported plants from Japan, China and the rest of the region. This tree is the largest and oldest example of a rare and unusual tree native to South American secondary forest in areas of marked wet and dry seasons. It was planted by Mr Samuel Stephens after 1934.
The tree is of horticultural and genetic value as it is a rare species and is widely recognised as an unusual tree. This is the largest and oldest example of this rare and unusual tree native to South American secondary forests in areas of marked wet and dry seasons. It is in an unusual setting and context as there are only three in Toowoomba and they are so far apart that none set seed. It makes a significant contribution to the landscape of this historic park and is an important landmark. It is associated with an important person, Samuel Stephens, founder of Laurel Bank Park. It is an interesting tree quite unlike any other species in Toowoomba. The tree is located south-east by east from the hall and across the central north-south roadway.