Forestry Corporation of NSW, Media Release, 15 December 2021
A Christmas tree grown by Forestry Corporation of NSW proudly sits in Government House in the centre of Sydney as a visual reminder of the forestry industry and the value it provides.
In the spirit of Christmas, Forestry Corporation donated the five metre tall Christmas tree – a radiata pine sourced from Penrose State Forest – to Government House, where it takes pride of place in the building’s iconic foyer.
Forestry Corporation’s Moss Vale Area Supervisor, Tom Bagnell, said the organisation was happy to support Government House’s Christmas display and help raise awareness of the NSW timber industry.
“This particular tree started its life as one of around nine million seeds sown in our Tumut nursery in 2016,” Mr Bagnell said.
“From there it spent the next five years in our Penrose State Forest pine plantation, before being harvested for this special role.”
Penrose State Forest has a significant Christmas history, so an apt source for this donation.
The plantation was first established in 1920, one of the earliest in the state. After a fire destroyed the plantation and Penrose village in 1939, the idea of growing pine was initially discarded by the then Forestry Commission.
“However, following a significant rainfall post-fire, the pine regeneration was so significant they decided to retain the plantation, initially to sell as Christmas trees!,” Mr Bagnell said.
“By the early 1950’s the sale of Christmas trees to the Sydney market was a viable enterprise with some 90,000 trees being supplied by the Forestry Commission in one year alone.”
Forestry Corporation has grown pine on the site ever since, with extensions to the plantation area through the 1960s and 70s.
Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) was originally named Pinus insignis or ‘remarkable pine’, an apt name for a tree, which has a host of practical uses. This species has been grown in the local Moss Vale area for over 100 years.
“Radiata pine is used in construction, landscaping and pulp and paper products, with NSW State forest pine plantations producing enough timber to construct a quarter of houses built in Australia each year,” Mr Bagnell said.
Forestry Corporation operations in both plantations and native forests, are certified sustainable to international standards, which guarantees that timber has been grown and harvested from a sustainable forest.
“This tree is one of the countless that cover the two million hectares of NSW State Forests,” Mr Bagnell said.
“Around half of our estate is managed solely for community enjoyment and environmental outcomes, and a small percentage of the remaining forests are harvested each year to help build our homes and supply timber products.”
For more information about Forestry Corporation of NSW, visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au
