Oak Lawn

Oaks symbolise strength, endurance and wisdom and have been revevered for centuries in their countries of origin.

Visit Oak Lawn year-round to witness the changing seasons and cycle of life.

In Summer: rest beneath their leafy shade.

In Autumn: crunch through the falling leaves and see who can find the biggest Quercus robur (English oak) leaf.

In Winter: The oak trees provide shelter for many small animals in winter because their leaves often stay on even after they are dead, only falling off as spring approaches.

And in Spring: see their bright green flower tassels (catkins) and fresh new leaves.

Notes from the team

"My name is Peter. I'm an arborist and I look after the Oak Collection. One thing I love is seeing, is the oak leaves on the ground with a little pool of water in them after the rain. There's something right about that.

When I'm an arborist, I'm concerned about, you know, is my chain saw sharp? How am I going to prune this tree, to maintain its health and maintain its life. But there's times during the day that I'm amazed being up a tree that I'm suddenly transported into the life of the tree."

Curator, Quercus (Oak) Collection, from Sonica Botanica Episode 2: Oak Lawn

Finding oaks around the world

While grown throughout the Gardens, most of the older, larger oaks are found here on Oak Lawn. In total, 46 different species have been planted (out of a world total of around 500), varying in size from upright to small and scrubby. And if you thought most oaks are native to England, think again. Most come from Mexico!

Highly valued

Around the world, oaks are the keystone species in many ecosystems, providing food and shelter for a great many animals – without them, entire ecosystems would collapse. We humans highly value their timber to build with, and their acorns to grind into flour.

Connecting to Country

This Collection is on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people. As you explore the Gardens you will see four colours and four words in Woi-wurrung language on the signs to reflect the Traditional Owners’ connection to Country and this particular place. The word tanderrum refers to a cultural gathering place in Woi-wurrung and the signs in this area have pink highlights.

White Oak documentary

Learn more about the death and new life of this beloved tree

Young Botanists

Acorn Collecting
An acorn is an oak’s seed. Acorns mostly fall to the ground in autumn. In other countries, animals that eat acorns include deer, bears, woodpeckers and squirrels. Here in these gardens, acorns are eaten by ducks and possums. Acorns come in many shapes and sizes. How many different acorns can you find? Did you see any cheeky ducks having a snack on an acorn?

Listen to Sonica Botanica

Hear sounds and stories from Oak Lawn in Episode 2 of Sonica Botanica (20m 33s). Perfect to listen to through your headphones whilst sitting under your favourite oak tree.

Listen to Episode 2

Interested in Oaks?

Learn more detailed horticultural information about the curation of the Quercus (Oak) Collection.

Quercus Collection

Listen to Sonic Snippets: from the Sonica Botanica archive

Arborist Peter Berbee talks about the importance of watching a leaf fall every now and then.

1m31s

[Intro] Sonic Snippets: from the Sonica Botanica archive

[Peter Berbee]: My name's Peter Berbee. I'm an arborist and I'm involved with everything to do with tree maintenance in our Melbourne Gardens.
I love autumn on the Oak Lawn - I love all the different seasons for different reasons - but to sit there and watch a leaf fall, that is very soothing. Working here, it can become a bit of a workplace sometimes and it's easy to forget, to just sit back myself to experience the Gardens as a visitor and someone who doesn't work here. So, I just took five minutes after finishing one day and put down my work hat and put on my visitor hat, and there's something very peaceful about that.
There's something right about watching a leaf fall. It's to do with nutrient recycling, it falls on the ground, goes back to the soil, it rots because the fungus that live under the ground re-absorb the nutrients and they go back into the roots and back into the tree.
Maybe there's something primal. Because we've had such a long relationship with trees, there’s something really just resonates, in our bodies.

Digging deeper...

In memory of the White Oak

For more than a century this grand old oak held court in this space before splitting and falling in 2019. Beneath its magnificence, people gathered, blankets were laid, books read, conversations held, spreading limbs climbed, autumn leaves kicked, and little acorns collected.

Even in death, its decaying limbs and roots continue to provide life for many organisms, while its branches have conveniently fallen to provide a place for you to rest.

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