It’s not every day you make one of the most important scientific findings in a century. And this one’s up there with the best: Tutankhamen, Rosetta Stone, the invention of the cronut – and as it were, it happened completely by accident.
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The discovery of a lifetime
Photo InformationWollemi Pine trees amongst other trees.
Jaime Plaza/Botanic Gardens Trust (2006)
In mid-1994 a NSW National Parks ranger (read: legend) David Noble was abseiling in the Wollemi Wilderness (about 5 hours west of Sydney). He suddenly came upon an extraordinary sight: a canyon filled with strange, massive pines. These trees towered above the surrounding foliage, with fern-like leaves and peculiar lumpy bark. The sight would have felt like a scene from The Land Before Time.
Photo InformationMichael Sharp, aerial seed collecting in Wollemi National Park.
Jaime Plaza/Botanic Gardens Trust (2004)
David’s chance finding of the Wollemi Pine that day became one of the most significant botanical finds in 100 years, as the ancient tree species was thought to be extinct millions of years ago. In fact, at the time it was so incredibly rare that it has since been compared with finding a small dinosaur still alive on earth – can you imagine?
Photo InformationBranden Bodman/DPIE
It’s no surprise that the Wollemi Pine achieved overnight celebrity status and became an Australian botanical icon. There were only roughly 100 left in the wilderness that day, but from this finding NSW National Parks were able to preserve the pine from certain extinction. Since then, it’s been studied, cloned and grown around the world by scientists and homegrown green thumbs alike. Incredibly, it is now even possible to grow a Wollemi Pine at home. They are easy to keep in a pot and can even be grown indoors.
Photo InformationWollemi Pine (Wollemia nobilis)
Rosie Nicolai/DPIE (2014)
And, would you believe, David Noble is still tirelessly working to preserve and protect NSW national parks in the Blue Mountains region. True story! #NSWParks Legend Status.
A secret mission by National Parks and Wildlife Service firefighters working in partnership with the Rural Fire Service to save the legendary Wollemi Pines from the catastrophic 2019/20 bushfires was a success! Learn more about this incredible operation.
