Central Business District in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia — Oceania

River Red Gum

— Historic Little Lon —

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

1. River Red Gum Marker

Inscription. This relic of an ancient River Red Gum tree was discovered in 1988 during the first archaeological dig at this precinct when the foundations of an early house were being investigated. It is possibly the only tangible reminder of the woodland that once covered Melbourne.

Maps indicate this was one of the city's last areas to be sold and cleared of its trees. Two seeds recovered in the 2002 dig provide further evidence of this original vegetation. An upper jawbone of a native cat, long since extinct in Melbourne, was also found nearby.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Paleontology • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1988.

Location. 37° 48.538′ S, 144° 58.231′ E. Marker is in Melbourne, Victoria. It is in the Central Business District. It can be reached from Little Lonsdale Street 0.1 kilometers west of Gorman Alley. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 50 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Oceania,

Australasia,

the Pacific Ocean,

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South Pacific,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Odd Fellows (a few steps from this marker); The Things They Left Behind (a few steps from this marker); Little Lon': Mission House (within shouting distance of this marker); Little Lon People and Professions (within shouting distance of this marker); Digging through Time (within shouting distance of this marker); 17 Casselden Place (within shouting distance of this marker); Madame Brussels (within shouting distance of this marker); The Saw Doctor (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melbourne.

More about this marker. Although this looks inside from the photos, it is definitely outside in a little alcove at the edge of a courtyard which is openly accessible from Little Lonsdale Street

Also see . . . River Red Gums: Melbourne’s Ancient Guardians of our Waterways. Aboriculture Victoria

Introduction

River red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis)
Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

2. Melbourne in 1938 - Left half of the Marker
are iconic trees that have shaped the Australian landscape for centuries. Revered by Aboriginal communities, celebrated by artists, and vital to local ecosystems, these majestic eucalypts have a rich history. Let’s delve into their story, unique characteristics, and their presence in Melbourne.

Historical Roots

Origins and Transformation

River red gums witnessed the evolution of the Murray River over millennia. They grew beside the Murray River when it was a wide, cold, fast-flowing stream. As the climate changed, the river narrowed, meandered, and became seasonal. Over the past 13,000 years, these trees adapted to slower, warmer waters, forming swamps, low sand dunes, and small lakes along the channel and seasonal wetlands in the wider riverine plain.

(Submitted on June 7, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria.)

The River Red Gum Relic and the Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dean Barton-Ancliffe, June 3, 2026

3. The River Red Gum Relic and the Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. This page has been viewed 8 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 7, 2026, by Dean Barton-Ancliffe of Rowville, Victoria. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.