In 1994 a Park’s Ranger was hiking in a remote part of the Wollemi National Park (pronounced Woll-a-my), in the Blue Mountains near Sydney. He came upon an unusual pine he did not recognise and took a sample. It was later identified as a pine that had survived for over 200 million years. The only previous records were fossils. In this remote location, a single stand of the tree had survived.

It was named the Wollemi Pine (Wollemia noblis) after its location and the Ranger who discovered it. The location remains secret but some fools have walked in and took a disease with them, Phytophthora cinnamomi.

These photos come from one of 2 pines at Mt Annan Botanic Gardens in western Sydney. One picture is the cone and the other showing new growth (lighter green) and the deeper coloured old growth. Click on the images to see full size.

An intense cultivation program was started so you can purchase the pine in many nurseries now.