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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burke and Wills Dig Tree | 4/4 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burke_and_Wills_Dig_Tree | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T12:39:52.548626+00:00 | kb-cron |
The Dig Tree is a mature coolibah (Eucalyptus microtheca), believed to be 200 to 250 years old, common along this section of the Cooper and widespread in arid and semi-arid areas near watercourses and in seasonally-inundated areas. The tree stands high above the creek, on the southern bank of the Bulloo Bulloo waterhole. Brahe cut two blazes into this tree in 1861. On the creek side of the trunk "B/LXV" denotes Brahe and Camp 65 in Roman numerals. On an upstream-side limb "DEC 6.60 APR 21.61" marks the date of establishment of the camp, and that of Brahe's departure. All of the lettering in the 'date blaze' is now obscured by overgrowing bark. On a nearby tree Brahe blazed the message "DIG THREE FT NW." When Alfred Howitt returned to Cooper Creek one year later (1862) so that he could collect the bodies of Wills and Burke for burial in Melbourne, a member of his team, Alexander Aitken, rode to Depot LXV and blazed another "DIG" message on the other side of the same tree on which Brahe had earlier cut his "B/LXV." This new message read: "AH" (Howitt's initials) "DIG UNDER ----> TO DEPOT". This 'Dig' message referred to information (buried in a bottle) about Howitt's depot at Cullyamurra Waterhole, further south, where supplies were available for other travellers. A boardwalk has been constructed around the tree to prevent the ground from being compacted by visitors footfalls. A stone cairn is located 40 feet (12 m) northwest of the Dig Tree. Further to the northwest is the Conrick Plaque, a metal sign attached to a large stone. Recent signage near the Dig Tree tells the story of Burke and Wills and their ill-fated expedition. The Face Tree (Eucalyptus microtheca), stands on the banks of the waterhole downstream (southwest) of the Dig Tree. It portrays a rendition of the face of Robert O'Hara Burke and the letters ROHB.
== Heritage listing == Burke and Wills Dig Tree was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register on 28 February 2003 having satisfied the following criteria. The place is important in demonstrating the evolution or pattern of Queensland's history. The Dig Tree is important in demonstrating the evolution of Queensland history, because the Burke and Wills expedition contributed to establishing commercial pastoral exploitation of the Australian inland. During the 1860s settlers, including the Duracks and Costellos in 1865, had pushed into the Channel Country grazing their sheep and cattle along Coopers Creek and the myriad channels and streams. Only twelve years after the deaths of Burke and Wills, the land encompassing the Dig Tree and depot area had been taken up as Nappa Merrie station. The place has a special association with the life or work of a particular person, group or organization of importance in Queensland's history. The Burke and Wills Dig Tree and Camp 65 is important for its special association with explorers Robert O'Hara Burke and William John Wills, who completed the first north–south crossing of the Australian continent and who both died during their return journey, in 1861. Their journey was remarkable not only as a feat of endurance and story of incompetence, but for the way in which it has permeated Australian historical consciousness, how it is celebrated in high art by verse and painting, and how it has contributed to the perpetuation of the Australian bush legend of struggle against the wilderness. The Dig Tree is a revered social landmark for many Australians, as evidenced by the many visitors to the site every year.
== See also == List of individual trees
== References ==
=== Attribution === This Wikipedia article was originally based on "The Queensland heritage register" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 7 July 2014, archived on 8 October 2014). The geo-coordinates were originally computed from the "Queensland heritage register boundaries" published by the State of Queensland under CC-BY 3.0 AU licence (accessed on 5 September 2014, archived on 15 October 2014).
== External links == Media related to Dig Tree at Wikimedia Commons
"The Dig Tree". Royal Historical Society of Queensland.