Perth's favourite boab tree celebrated its 10th anniversary of arriving in Kings Park and Botanic Garden in July.
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The tale of the giant tree's 3,200 km journey from the East Kimberley to Perth includes challenges of a 36-tonne living tree, a truck breakdown, tight deadlines and major upheaval on Perth roads. Never before had a mature tree of this kind been transported such a distance on land.
However, these challenges were no match for the extraordinary labour of love shown by the traditional Gija people from Warmun in the north and a team of Kings Park specialists, crane and truck drivers, police, road workers and many others who made the journey possible.
The journey of 'Gija Jumulu' attracted worldwide attention and continues to be one of the Park's most popular attractions for visitors.
The boab is one of the most closely managed and monitored trees in Kings Park. A team of arborists and scientists are involved in its ongoing care, and the tree continues to thrive.
Facts about Gija Jumulu
- Name
- Gija Jumulu refers to the Gija people, the traditional owners of the land where the boab tree originated from in the East Kimberley. 'Jumulu' means boab tree.
- Age
- Over 750 years old and may live for up to 1,500 years.
- Size
- 14 metres high, 2.5 metres wide (girth), branch canopy 8 metres wide
- Weight
- 36 tonnes
- Flowering
- Flowers in Perth just once a year for a few weeks in March/April.
- The journey
- 3,200 km from Warmun (East Kimberley) to Kings Park over six days. The tree took two days to plant and was completed on 20 July 2008.
Learn more about the amazing Gija Boab in the WA Botanic Garden section.
