By Alesha Capone
A plaque has been installed to honour a tree planted at the corner of Princes Highway and Sneydes Road in Werribee, in 1928.
Known as the “Governor’s Tree” and “Governor’s Gum”, the sugar gum (eucalyptus cladocalyx) was planted in honour of William Calder, the former chairman of the Country Roads Board, which extended and upgraded much of the state’s roads network.
The plaque was installed under a state government project led by VicRoads after Tarneit horticulturalist and heritage tree researcher Charlie Buttigeig helped to uncover the sugar gum’s history.
Mr Buttigieg said he was grateful to those in the Wyndham community who had helped with his research, including Charmaine Wakefield, Colin Moss and the late Gwenda Kay.
Mr Buttigieg said Lance Pritchard from the Werribee District Historical Society had also helped to establish that the tree was planted exactly one mile from the former Werribee post office.
“My name may appear on the plaque, but my name is an umbrella name which celebrates the involvement of people in the community,” Mr Buttigieg said.
Werribee MP Tim Pallas described the tree as a “local landmark”.
