Monkey Puzzle Tree

The Monkey Puzzle tree has always been a remarkable and significant landmark for the people of Barrys Reef and Blackwood. It remains one of the few surviving relics from the era of the great gold rush that once shaped Barrys Reef's history. What makes the Monkey Puzzle tree particularly noteworthy is that it is the only remnant of the town visible in photographs dating back to the 1870s. As the buildings and mines disappeared over time, this tree has endured, standing as a solitary testament to the once-thriving mining town. Early photos feature the tree, and as the structures vanished from the images, the Monkey Puzzle tree has remained as a living link to the past.

Photo courtesy of Margot Hitchock