Broome Tree Nursery

Statement of Significance

• The mature trees on the site which may originate with the Broome Tree Nursery. • The site of the Broome Tree Nursery has historic value for its association with the period of rapid growth and settlement in the north west of Western Australia following the mining boom of the 1960's. • The site of the Broome Tree Nursery has historic value for its association with the government policy which provided free plants to the North West residents, and towns and investment in sourcing appropriate plants for the region. • The site of the Broome Tree Nursery has social value for the members of the community who recall the former use of the site and the role it played in developing the character of the Broome streetscape through its plantings. • The site of the Broome Tree Nursery has social value for the many members of the community who visited the place to obtain plants, seek advice or undertake training.

Physical Description

There is no evidence of the buildings of the former tree nursery which was located on a roughly triangular portion of land bound by Robert, Herbert and Walcott Streets. The site is now occupied by the offices of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and a camping ground. There are mature exotic trees on the site which originate from the former nursery, some of which have plaques designating their species.

History

The Broome Tree Nursery was established in the 1960's and was part of a state government initiative, the North West Tree Scheme which aimed to “Green the North”. The scheme encouraged widespread planting of trees and other plants in private gardens, reserves and streets to provide plant stock suitable for the northwest. Mass planting of trees in the rapidly growing north west of the state increased shade and dust control in the growing population centres of the north. The Department of the North West supplied free plants to everyone between Carnarvon and Kununurra and local regional airline MMA (MacRobertson Miller Airlines) provided free freight for all plants. Western Australian botanist and horticulturist Frederick (Fred) Conrad James Lullfitz (1914-1983) was the North West Tree Adviser in charge of the Government Nursery. Initially the plant stock was established and propagated at a special nursery within the Broome Prison with assistance from the inmates. The nursery was later relocated to the site on Herbert Street which included premises for the government employee managing the nursery. Fred Lullfitz and his staff at the Broome Tree Nursery gave away many plants, including native species, citrus trees, tropical fruit trees and many others that have become standard plants in the Broome streets. The Broome Tree Nursery was subsequently taken out of the management of the Department of the North West into the Forestry Department in 1982. The site continues to be used for the subsequent organisations, Department of Conservation and Land Management and currently [2018] the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Aerial photographs indicate that any evidence of the former nursery was gone by 2000. However the mature trees on the site are likely to originate from the nursery operation. The Broome Tree Nursery provided work opportunities for local residents. Two of the influential individuals working at the nursery were Paul Frater and Tim Willing who went on to establish a commercial nursery in Broome that introduced exotic plants that have come to characterise the streets of Broome. Paul Frater was also responsible for training many of the local aboriginal people in horticulture, passing on practical skills and knowledge.

Historic Themes

Creation Date

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