The Oaks of Oak St

The Oak trees in Oak St Drouin have come into full leaf for another summer.

These magnificent trees provide welcome shade to the playground of the Oak St kindergarten and of course, what child doesn’t enjoy collecting acorns. 

Oak St is the site of the original saleyards for Drouin. The location was very convenient for access to the railway station for freighting stock, to Melbourne particularly. It is thought the trees were probably planted in the early 1900s to provide shelter for animals as they waited there turn for sale or transport. The trees look large in photographs of the area taken in 1936. English Oaks can live for hundreds of years, the oldest known alive today is believed to be 1500 years old, so the kindergarten Oaks can be expected to be providing shelter for many years to come. 

Circa 1930. Credit nla.gov.au

The Oak St Kinder was established in 1964 and the iconic Oak trees are still providing welcome summer relief and winter sculptural beauty.

The species English Oak, Quercus robur, is known for its long-lasting, endurable timber which is often sought after for furniture products. In many European countries, the Oak Tree has considerable status. It is the national emblem of England, a symbol of romanticism in Germany and many Oak trees in France are considered sacred.

In their European home range, Oaks contribute considerably to the biodiversity. The acorn fruit is eaten by squirrels and the leaves, bark and fruit are host to a variety of insects. Australian birds and mammals appear to make very little use Oak trees.

Oak bark can be dried and ground into a powder for topical and oral use, and it has been used for medicinal purposes throughout history.

The Oaks of Oak St are an enduring symbol of strength, survival and protection.

 

“The oak tree is a brave old tree,

It lives to be quite old,

It gives good shade in summer,

And stands the winter's cold.

The men who build the stately ships

That sail across the sea

Think there's no wood so strong, so good

As the brave old white oak tree.” - Anonymous