Explorers tree


The Explorers Tree is a Blue Mountains Ash tree located at Explorers Hill, about 5 km west of Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia.
It is well known as the tree on which Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth, the explorers who achieved the first known successful crossing of the Blue Mountains of New South Wales by European settlers, carved their initials in 1813.

Controversy

The claim that the explorers carved their initials into the tree is not universally supported.

Damage

The tree died in the 1950s, but the stump of the tree, about 3 metres high and smeared with concrete, remains, located adjacent to the Great Western Highway. The stump is protected from the weather and vandalism by a roof and a fence.
In 2005, the tree was subject to an arson attack. The tree was slightly charred.
In 2012, a car crashed into the tree base from the highway and severely damaged its stone wall foundations & the roof.

Site Renovation

In August 2018, a state government heritage grant was awarded to Blue Mountains City Council to preserve what is left of the tree, as well as provide a better understanding of the place including Aboriginal perspectives.