Wungong Catchment Trial - Jarrah forest a century ago
Jarrah forest a century ago
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Over a century ago before manipulation by Europeans, the jarrah forest was very different to today's dense pole stand regrowth forest. It was a mature open forest you could ride a horse through.
The images with captions are from B. Dell, J.J. Havel & N. Malajczuk (eds.) (1989) (first image), and Robert Powell and Jane Emberson (1978) (remaining four images). Select image for larger version.
Virgin jarrah forest (Eucalyptus marginate): compartment 9, Dwellingup working circle: March 1926
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" These trees are very old; note their large girth and high ratio of wood to foliage. Old trees are individual, as the photo shows, with idiosyncratic patterns of branching. Giants like these represent the full development of the species - the natural culmination to which every jarrah is genetically programmed to aspire.
Zamias (Macrozamia riedlei) and low shrubs are visable, and three small trees: at left probably a snottygobble (Persoonia elliptica); at right sheoak with the pale stem (see no. 19) and bull banksia (Banksia grandis) - both spindly. Clearly the dominant trees here appropriate most of the available light and nutrients."
Jarrah forest with fallers at work: 1920
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" A right-handed feller would work together with a left-handed feller when possible, otherwise alone; here we see one such pair. Felling a large tree (like the one at right) took five or six man-hours with axe and crosscut saw."
Forest scene: Jarrahdale
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" The forests of this tree here are thoroughly representative, and have, during the last twenty years, produced a large quantity of timber for Intercolonial and Foreign markets. - Ednie-Brown 1896."
Jarrah forest along Karridale Road: 1914
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" Nos. 4 and 5 are both of jarrah and both fairly near Margaret River: yet in this one the jarrahs are typical forest trees - tall and long-boled-whereas in no. 5 they spread out and hardly overtop the banksias. That difference in structure probably reflects a difference in soil.
The tree at far left is a marri; note the less stripy bark and the dark stains caused by exuding gum.
To the modern eye, this thick forest and winding lane look more enchanted than real."
References:
B. Dell, J.J. Havel & N. Malajczuk (eds.) (1989), The jarrah forest – A complex Mediterranean ecosystem, Published: Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht.
Robert Powell and Jane Emberson (1978), An Old Look At Trees: Vegetation of South-Western Australia in Old Photographs, Published: Campaign to Save Native Forests (W.A.) c/o Environment Centre, 794 Hay St, Perth, WA, 6000
