Giants Live Still In The Otways

Mountain Ash trees are the second-tallest in the world, surpassed only by the coastal Redwoods of the USA. Found exclusively in Victoria and Tasmania, they can reach heights of 80–100 metres. A truly precious part of our landscape. By Janet Goud.

Recently Landcare in Apollo Bay took a group of interested people on an exciting trip to see some well hidden and forgotten giants still growing in the Otways. On difficult and winding tracks they drove for over an hour. Then they hiked through very thick bush to reach the area where these few giants survive. The area was too awkward and remote to mill, so today we can still see a few remnants of what the ancient untouched forests were filled with.

There were eight people on this exciting expedition. Joining hands they could barely reach around each of the trees. Amazingly these Mountain Ash trees are the second largest trees on earth, after the coastal Redwoods of the USA. The Mountain Ash grow only in Victoria and Tasmania. They can grow to 80 -100 metres. They are so precious!

In difficult and steep sloping country some old trees have survived after hundreds of years of growing steadily. Remember the pictures of the timber cutter living in the huge butts of trees? There are very few such Mountain Ash left in the Otways. Most are second and third generation trees. Still magnificent but not the old giants. Those trees are long gone. As are all the trees that size in the main forests of the Otway Ranges. Everyone wanted and needed the wood. The original timber cutters endured much hardship to provide the wood for needed for houses, buildings and infrastructure for our towns and cities.

After the millennia of living and growing with only climate changes, European settlement made quick and drastic changes. How wonderful to think miraculously some are still with us.

Mountain Ash