Gregory's Tree Historical Reserve is a protected area in the Northern Territory and it is situated within the Judbarra / Gregory National Park and is 15km (09miles) north-west of Timber Creek and on the Victoria Highway and is a registered heritage site.[1] [2] The reserve is a small one consisting of 2ha.[3]
Gregory's tree itself is a boab tree (Adansonia gregorii) which is sacred to the Ngarinman people; for this reason it is also registered as a sacred site.[4] [5]
A permanent declaration placing it on the Northern Territory Heritage Register made on 1 March 1995.[6]
Gregory's Tree, which the reserve encapsulates, was named for Augustus Charles Gregory when he was the leader of the North Australia Expedition in 1855 - 1856 and it marks an area where he camped. The dates of these camps, 13 October 1855 and 2 July 1856, is inscribed into the tree trunk and where designed to serve as a marker of their expedition; in case they came into trouble.[7] [8]
The species of tree was also named and first described by Ferdinand von Mueller, the botanist for the expedition, in honour of Gregory.