Central Australian Register

Ida Standley alongside a Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera), listed as tree #1 in the Alice Springs register. Image by Jack Laver in 1922, courtesy of the State Library of South Australia.

Explore the Central Australian Region of the NT Register of Significant Trees. This is a region full of old River Red Gums that tell us about historical river flooding levels, and Date Palms that hail from the cameleering days. There are currently 29 trees listed on the NT Significant Tree Register Central Australia, with a range from Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the south-west, to the West and East MacDonnell Ranges, and a sizeable cluster around the Alice Springs town centre.

You can download PDF fact sheets on the registered trees and take a ‘virtual’ tour of the register via an interactive Google Map (NT Register of Significant Trees).

What’s All the Fuss About?

There has been a lot of buzz in the Alice Springs community in early 2017 regarding trees of significance around the town of Alice Springs. This has been spurred on by the old Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Red River Gum) on the corner of Parsons Street and the Todd Mall, which has decided to indulge in a spot of, shall we say ‘self-pruning’? It is widely known that this tree has been listed with AAPA (Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority) since the 1980’s, however during this time it was also listed on the Central Australian Register of Significant Trees in 4 of the 11 categories of significance (age, historical, cultural, and location). This tree is one of 29 trees currently listed on the Central Australian Register of Significant Trees, and of 220 listed Territory wide. By understanding the significance and history of trees around town, we can gain a greater understanding of their importance and why they should be protected.

Fact Sheets

Found a tree on the map that interests you? Click on the associated register number below to download a PDF fact sheet of the significant tree.

Register No. Botanical Name Common Name Location Categories of Significance
1 Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm Myrtle Villa, Corner of Wills Terrace and Hartley Street, Alice Springs NT Cultural
2 Corymbia aparrerinja Ghost Gum Trephina Gorge Nature Park, East MacDonnell Ranges NT
(Entry road to Trephina Gorge, 3 km before Gorge)
Aesthetic, Size
3 Hakea eyreana Simpson Desert Corkwood / Straggly Corkwood Araluen Arts Centre, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Historical, Cultural
4 Acacia estrophiolata Southern Ironwood No longer present: Araluen Arts Centre, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Cultural
5 Schinus molle Peppercorn Tree No longer present: Old Heavitree Gap Police Station, Alice Springs NT Historical, Unique Location
6 Santalum acuminatum Desert Quandong Kings Canyon (Watarrka) National Park NT Age, Rare, Horticultural Value
7 Erythrina vespertilio Bat’s Wing Coral Tree No longer present: Colocag Park, Stott Terrace Roundabout, Alice Springs NT Size, Cultural
8 Schotia brachypetala Tree Fuschia 6 Renner Street, Alice Springs NT Rare
9 Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm Alice Springs Town Council Chambers Lawns, Todd Street, Alice Springs NT Size, Cultural
10 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Corner of Parsons Street and Todd Mall, Alice Springs NT Age, Historical, Cultural, Unique Location
11 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Araluen Arts Centre, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Historical, Unique Location, Group
12 Corymbia citriodora Lemon-scented Gum Alice Springs Police Station, Bath Street, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic
13 Eucalyptus microtheca & E. intertexta Coolibah and Bastard Coolibah Coolibah Swamp, Stott Terrace, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Age, Cultural, Group
14 Corymbia aparrerinja Ghost Gum Mt. Nancy Apartments, Corner of North Stuart Highway and Dixon Rd, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Unique Location
15 Schinus molle Peppercorn Tree Araluen Arts Centre, Larapinta Drive, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Historical, Group
16 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Pitchi Richi Heritage Sanctuary, Palm Circuit, Alice Springs NT Cultural
17 Livistona mariae Central Australian Red Cabbage Palm Palm Valley, Finke Gorge National Park NT Unique Location, Rare, Group
18 Macrozamia macdonnellii MacDonnell Ranges Cycad Palm Valley, Finke Gorge National Park NT Aesthetic, Unique Location, Rare, Group
19 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Kings Canyon (Watarrka) National Park NT Historical
20 Corymbia aparrerinja Ghost Gum Temple Bar Station, Roe Creek, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Size
21 Corymbia apparrerinja Ghost Gum No longer present: Larapinta Drive, west of Bullen Road turn-off, Alice Springs NT Historical, Cultural
22 Tinospora smilacina Snake Vine No longer present: Rieff Building, 52 Hartley Street, Alice Springs NT Age, Cultural
23 Brachychiton rupestris Queensland Bottle Tree No longer present: Strehlow Centre, Larapinta and Memorial Drive, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic
24 Acacia peuce Waddy Wood Alice Springs Town Council Chamber Lawns, Todd St, Alice Springs NT Cultural, Rare
25 Hakea eyreana Simpson Desert Corkwood Ragonesi Road, Ross, Alice Springs NT Unique Location, Habitat
26 Ficus platypoda Native Fig Billy Goat Hill, Lot 2656 Stott Terrace, Alice Springs NT (Crown Land) Aesthetic, Cultural, Unique Location
27 Corymbia aparrerinja Ghost Gum South Stuart Highway Road Reserve, Alice Springs NT (near Blakeman Bridge) Aesthetic, Unique Location
28 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Roadside Planting on Gap Rd, Alice Springs NT (Avenue of trees located along Gap Road and in vacant lot opposite Montys) Aesthetic, Unique Location, Group
29 Various Species Olive Pink Botanic Garden Olive Pink Botanic Gardens, Lot 1286 & 1325 Tuncks Road, Alice Springs NT Historical, Cultural, Rare, Horticultural Value, Group
30 Capparis mitchellii Native Orange No longer present: Lot 9036, Corner of Basso Road and Stuart Highway, Alice Springs NT Aesthetic, Size, Unique Location
31 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Lot 8550, Corner of Gregory Terrace and Leichardt Terrace, Alice Springs NT Cultural, Unique Location
32 Corymbia opaca Bloodwood Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park NT (Located in Maggie Springs / Mutitjulu Waterhole) Historical
33 Melia azedarach var. australasica White Cedar Hartley Street School, Lot 69 Hartley Street, Alice Springs NT Historical
34 Eucalyptus camaldulensis River Red Gum Alice Springs Telegraph Station, Lot 941, Alice Springs NT Size, Historical, Unique Location
35 Grevillea robusta Silky Oak No longer present: 29 (Lot 734) Chewings Street, Alice Springs NT Size, Historical, Cultural, Unique Location
36 Melia azedarach var. australasica White Cedar Stuart Park, Stuart Terrace, Alice Springs NT Historical, Unique Location, Group
37 Jacaranda mimosifolia Jacaranda Flynn Church & Adelaide House (Lot 74 & 75) Todd Mall, Alice Springs NT Size, Historical, Unique Location, Group

The NT Register of Significant Trees is managed by Land for Wildlife Central Australia, on behalf of the National Trust NT.

The register was initiated by the National Trust NT, with input from Greening Australia NT, and coordination by Land for Wildlife Central Australia since 2011.