Pialligo Redwoods

About 120,000 mixed Sequoiadendron gigantea and Sequioa sempervirens seedlings were planted at Pialligo near the south eastern boundary of Canberra airport by Charles Weston in 1918, at Walter Burley Griffin’s request, despite advice that the Canberra climate is too dry for these species. Most of the Sequoiadendron have succumbed to lack of water.

A number of trees were removed to enable the airport to be extended in the 1960's. The remaining trees are exhibiting signs of stress and mortality is occurring, with only the hardiest surviving where moisture is sufficient.

The site was also supplemented with additional plantings inthe 1980s, most of which failed except for some attractive specimens of Pinus sabineana.

The site is now managed by the Australian Department of Defence, which has created a guided walkway through the plantation. A brochure describing the walk is available