Gregory’s Tree, Timber Creek

Gregory’s Tree has historical and social significance. It’s a living monument to the exploration of the north of Australia, in particular the North Australia Expedition led by Augustus Charles Gregory in 1855-56. The tree, a boab (Adansonia gregorii), marks the area of Gregory’s ‘entrenchment camp’ from October 1855 to July 1856 and still bears inscriptions noting the date of arrival and departure from the camp. The boab species was first described by Ferdinand Von Mueller, botanist for the expedition and one of the foremost botanists in Australia, who named the species in honour of the expedition leader. Gregory’s Tree has special signficance to the local Ngaringman people and is registered as a Sacred Site.