Old Mulberry Tree at Reeves Point is a tree in the Australian state of

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

located at Reeves Point in Kingscote on

Kangaroo Island Kangaroo Island, also known as Karta Pintingga (literally 'Island of the Dead' in the language of the Kaurna people), is Australia's third-largest island, after Tasmania and Melville Island. It lies in the state of South Australia, southwest ...

. The tree, which was planted as early as 1836, probably by Charles Binden Powell, is associated with the first official European settlement of South Australia and is the oldest surviving fruit tree in the state.

History

Who planted the tree?

Controversy remains as to the person who planted the

mulberry tree ''Morus'', a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae, consists of diverse species of deciduous trees commonly known as mulberries, growing wild and under cultivation in many temperate world regions. Generally, the genus has 64 identif ...

, and when.Holmesby, William P., Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association - Its Development and Progress, Statewide & Global Publishing, 2005, available https://sites.google.com/site/kipaview/history/the-history-of-kipa/foreword---holmesby-pp-7-12 Some believe the tree was planted some time in 1837 and is all that is left of an orchard planted by

Johann Menge Johannes Menge (4 January 1788 – 1852), is regarded as South Australia's first geologist, though he had no formal qualifications. An early explorer of the new colony, he was influential in the settlement of the Barossa Valley. He has been call ...

(1788-1852), South Australia's first geologist. The descendants of Friedrich Kleeman lay claim to the first planting. Friedrich's wife, Maria née Helm died the day before the arrival of the ''Solway'' on 16 October 1837 and her remains were brought ashore and buried. An obituary notice of Friedericke Wilhelmine Till (Friedrich's daughter) who died in 1928 stated that her mother was buried in the Old Cemetey at Kingscote, near the Mulberry Tree, which was brought out by the Kleeman family from Germany. Other newspaper reports in 1936 state that Mrs Kleeman was buried where the Mulberry Tree stands, the tree being planted on her grave. Mulberry Tree Plaque, Reeves Point, Kingscote

Mulberry Tree Plaque, Reeves Point, Kingscote

Descendants of Johann Christian (c.1808-1888) who also arrived on the ''Solway'', claim from their family history that he planted the tree, and that he buried his wife Karoline (c.1851-1849) at the base of the tree. Some consider this unlikely as the nearby Kangaroo Island Pioneers Cemetery had already been in use for the past 12 years. The descendants of

Charles George Everard Dr Charles George Everard MD (29 August 1794 – 30 March 1876) was a physician, pioneer farmer and Member of the Legislative Council, in the early days of South Australia. Early life Charles was born in Marshfield Gloucestershire on 29 Au ...

(1794-1876), who arrived on the ''Africaine'', claim that he was responsible for planting the first mulberry tree, brought from the Cape of Good Hope, although lamenting that it was cut down, which would confirm that there was more than one mulberry tree. Descendants of

Thomas Hudson Beare Sir Thomas Hudson Beare FRSE RSSA (30 June 1859 – 10 June 1940) was an eminent British engineer. He was successively Professor of Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, at University College, London (where he was a colleague of K ...

(1792-1861), who arrived on the ''

Duke of York Duke of York is a title of nobility in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. Since the 15th century, it has, when granted, usually been given to the second son of English (later British) monarchs. The equivalent title in the Scottish peerage was Du ...

'', lay claim to the first planting, although it is likely that he instructed the

South Australian Company The South Australian Company, also referred to as the South Australia Company, was formed in London on 9 October 1835, after the '' South Australia (Foundation) Act 1834'' had established the new British Province of South Australia, with the So ...

gardener, Charles Binden Powell (1810-1898), who also arrived on the ''Duke of York'', to do the planting, which probably occurred within a few days after the arrival of the ''Duke of York'' on 27 July 1836.Holmesby, William P., Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association - Its Development and Progress, Statewide & Global Publishing, 2005, available https://sites.google.com/site/kipaview/history/the-history-of-kipa/foreword---holmesby-pp-7-12

Poetry

A poem by "Racey Schlank" was published in 1911

Preservation

Concerns were expressed for the health of the tree as early as 1915, and several attempts to preserve the tree since, including a professional aborist engaged by the

Kangaroo Island Council The Kangaroo Island Council is a local government area in South Australia that covers the entirety of Kangaroo Island, 13 km off the coast of the mainland. The council was formed on the 28 November 1996 by the amalgamation of the District C ...

, have proved successful. It is considered that it may survive for 500 years. Visitors to the historic site will see that the old tree has been propped up by a support system of cables and poles.

The tree today

The continuing productivity of the tree

The tree is still bearing fruit, and cuttings have been propagated and planted nearby and in other parts of South Australia with mixed success. One planted adjacent by the Kleemann and Christian pioneer descendants, on 27 July 1986, continues to thrive.

Symbolism

Due to its historical significance, the mulberry tree at Reeves Point is considered to be a living testament to the tenacious spirit of the early pioneers of South Australia. It is depicted in the logo of the

Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association The Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association, is a not for profit history organisation in South Australia. Established in 1984, the Kangaroo Island Pioneer Association (K.I.P.A.) is committed to determining, preserving and promoting Kangaroo Island’ ...

Heritage listing

The tree is a feature of a site which was listed on the

South Australian Heritage Register The South Australian Heritage Register, also known as the SA Heritage Register, is a statutory register of historic places in South Australia. It extends legal protection regarding demolition and development under the ''Heritage Places Act 1993'' ...

on 1 September 1983 for being the "site of the first official settlement in the Colony".

References

{{Reflist

External links

Kangaroo Island Pioneers Association

Reeves Point, Kingscote
Flora of Kangaroo Island History of South Australia South Australian Heritage Register Individual trees in South Australia