23/9/2004

Today our students enjoyed a visit by a Wollemi Pine. This ancient plant was accompanied by Mr Phil Ridley who spoke to the students about the tree and its history.

The Wollemi Pine (Wollemi nobilis) is one of the world's oldest and rarest plants dating back to the time of the dinosaurs. It belongs to the 200 million old Araucariaceae family.

Fewer than 100 adult trees are known to exist in the wild. They grow in a secret location 150km north-west of Sydney within the Wollemi National Park. The oldest trees are 40 metres in height and may be more than 1000years old.