The Bundanoon
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Federation Tree Planting – 2001
Bundanoon
Celebrating the Centenary of Federation
Wingecarribee Shire Council received a Centenary of Federation grant of $40,000 from the Federal Government for a tree planting project. Bundanoon was allotted $800 (funded via the council).
Hundreds of trees were planted throughout the towns and villages of the Wingecarribee shire.
Tree Planting Day in Bundanoon
On 14th September 2001, an official Tree Planting ceremony was held in the presence of the local State member, Peta Seaton, Wingecarribee councillors Duncan Gair and David Wood and the Bundanoon Community Association President, Mark Corbett.
The trees were purchased from the Winter Hill Nursery at Canyonleigh, but the government grant was not enough to cover the cost of the trees and the extra costs involved in ground preparation, hole digging, tree guards, fertilisers etc. Members of the local community were invited to make a personal contribution by donating or sponsoring a tree.
John and Elizabeth Royal were instrumental in the Centenary Tree Planting project. The costings for the trees were taken from a fax sent by John Royal to the council on 2nd August 2001. Elizabeth Royal drew up a Tree Planting Plan. John and Elizabeth were involved in many of the Bundanoon Garden projects. They left Bundanoon in 2002.
Drainage Problem
A serious drainage problem was discovered in the area selected for the centenary tree planting program. The run-off from the pipes under the roadway was not getting away leaving the area waterlogged and very boggy. The drainage was improved by lining the creek that runs through the site with local sandstone. The water pipeline from the information bay area was extended to the new plantings and a new tap was installed.
Constructing the Watercourse – 2005
Elizabeth Royal’s Tree Planting Plan – 2001
Federation of Australia.
From the late 1700s, British colonies were established and by the late 1800s, each of these colonies had its own government and laws, including its own railway system, postage stamps and tariffs—taxes. They were still subject to the law-making power of the British Parliament. This caused many problems and people began to think about the benefits of uniting as one nation.
The first Governor-General, Lord Hopetoun, appointed Edmund Barton as the head of the new government. Australia’s first Parliament was opened by the Duke of York in Melbourne on 9 May 1901.
1st Prime Minister of Australia
Edmund Barton.
The need for a Federal Capital of Australia
With Federation, there was a need for a Federal Capital and a competition was held to find the most suitable sight.
Bundanoon nominated as Federal Capital
William Augustus (Gus) Nicholas, one of the towns’ most prominent citizens, put forward the Bundanoon district as being ideally situated. His reasons included good rainfall and an abundance of stone, clay, limestone, timber and coal. There were many other reasons put forward but the nomination was unsuccessful.
Canberra – The Federal Capital of Australia
Forty towns vied for the honour of being named Australia’s capital city
On 18 October 1909, New South Wales agreed to surrender approximately 2400 square kilometres of the state to the Commonwealth for the creation of the Australian Capital Territory. The agreement was signed by Prime Minister Alfred Deakin and NSW Premier Charles Wade.