Australia's 250-Year-Old Gloucester Tree Reopens to Climbers

A 250-year-old giant eucalyptus tree with a ladder of pegs spiraling up its trunk has reopened to climbers after a three-year safety upgrade, bringing joy back to a small Australian wine region.

The Gloucester Tree in Pemberton, Western Australia, stands as a living monument to the area's forestry past. Since 1947, brave visitors have climbed metal pegs hammered into the karri tree's trunk to reach observation platforms perched high above the forest floor.

Local government president Donelle Buegge says the view is worth the nerve-wracking ascent. "To watch the sunrise through the canopies of the trees is absolutely incredible," she told ABC News.

The tree closed in 2023 when engineers discovered structural concerns, hitting local tourism hard. Pemberton, located 190 miles south of Perth, relies on outdoor enthusiasts who come for long-distance hiking trails, national parks, and the region's wine industry.

Engineers and arborists spent months re-pegging the tree and installing a new observation platform. Visitors can now climb to a platform just over 100 feet up, though the higher 200-foot platform remains closed for safety.

True to its pioneering spirit, the climb still requires no harnesses or safety ropes. Climbers ascend at their own risk, gripping pegs that curve around the massive trunk.

The Ripple Effect

The reopening means more than just tourist thrills for Pemberton residents. Tim Foley from the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions emphasized the trees' global uniqueness and their importance to the local economy.

The careful restoration took extra time to ensure the tree wouldn't need another lengthy closure. For a small community where tourism dollars matter, getting the work right was essential.

The Gloucester Tree shares its fame with another nearby giant called the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, which received similar restoration work. Together, these living lookout towers represent a rare piece of history when foresters climbed high above the forest to spot wildfires threatening the vast karri woodlands.

Now locals and visitors can once again experience the thrill of climbing into the canopy, watching the sun paint the treetops gold, and seeing the landscape spread out below just as foresters did decades ago.