The Ficus benjamina, a weeping fig, that sits majestically in Ely Park was originally grown in Mount Isa in northwest Queensland before being dug up by Bill Ely and forwarded to his uncle, Robert Megarity, who planted it on the shore of Gympie Terrace in 1926. For many decades, it was known as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ as it was a nice, shady meeting place upon the banks of the river to share yarns when there were far fewer large trees along Gympie Terrace than there are today.
Ethel Ely in front of a young Tree of Knowledge, early 1930s
It was originally planted beside a camphor laurel but decades later this species was declared a noxious weed and removed by the Noosa Council as part of their foreshore improvement program.
