Elm Avenue is an iconic and much-loved site in the Albury Botanic Gardens. Unfortunately, the trees are at the end of their Useful Life Expectancy (ULE) and require replacement. This project provides background information and project status.
The Albury Botanic Gardens Master Plan 2022-2042 was endorsed by Council in June 2022. One of its main priority projects is to replace the declining elm trees that make up Elm Avenue and create a new double perennial border, which will be one of the longest in Australia.
Elm Avenue is an iconic and much-loved site in the Albury Botanic Gardens. Unfortunately, the trees are in serious decline and at the end of their useful life. Independent arborist reports over many years have indicated that “all trees have fair health and poor structure”.
This situation has been exacerbated by the trees' age (over 140 years), past poor pruning techniques and the installation of the concrete drainage channel next to the trees. A combination of these factors has resulted in major structural defects, reducing their useful life expectancy.
It is proposed to replace the elm trees with an avenue of advanced ginkgo trees, which are more climate resilient than elms, but which still display incredible yellow autumn colour. The plan also includes the establishment of a new double perennial border beneath the trees, which will be one of the longest in Australia and will be in keeping with the heritage value of the Botanic Gardens.
The project aligns with Action 4 of the Botanic Gardens Master Plan:
Action 4
Replace the elms to secure The Avenue’s long-term place in the landscape:
- Extract from the Botanic Gardens Master Plan
Concept design of the redeveloped avenue.
16 February 2024
Consultants have been engaged to progress the detailed design of replacing the avenue of elms with ginkgoes and associated landscaping.