Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00620:body:0:p25
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00620
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 67384–70282

fast-growing Lombardy poplars (Populus nigra 'Italica', described in the 1928 Plan of Permanent Planting as Populus pyramidalis) were planted in accordance with Murdoch's instruction, in small square planting beds, serving to mark and extend the axial vista, and to frame views of the building's north elevation.  The pairing at the north end of West Block mirrored an identical planting already established across Queen Victoria Terrace to the north.  To the west, similar pairs of Lombardy Poplars, also planted earlier, addressed the intersection of the Terrace with Commonwealth Avenue.
One of the original Lombardy poplars marking the northern axis survives within the West Block curtilage, although the pair of square landscape enclosures have been removed.  On the north side of Queen Victoria Terrace, the corresponding pair of trees has been replaced in their original locations with new Poplar specimens, and the square enclosures have been maintained with the low hedging as originally conceived.  The pair of Lombardy poplars once located at the north end of the West Block car park, aligned with Commonwealth Avenue, have not survived.
Along both sides of Queen Victoria Terrace, between these landmarks and extending to the east, mixed avenue plantings of White poplar (Populus alba), Pin oak (Quercus palustris) and Lawson's cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) reinforced the precinct's formality.  Some of these avenue trees appear to have survived to the present day; others have been replaced.
Around West Block itself, a variety of poplars, elms and cypress trees were planted, and eucalypts (Eucalyptus globulus) were introduced in the courtyards to the east and west of B Block.
The other key feature of the West Block precinct was the integral car park to the west.  This triangular space was surrounded by a pedestrian walkway.  Beginning at the centre of this triangular space, an inner ring of shade trees was planted within the periphery of the car park surface, consisting of alternating American elms (Ulmus americana) and Black ash (Fraxinus nigra, then described as Fraxinus sambucifolia).  Beyond this ring, the perimeter beds located between the car park and the pedestrian walkways were planted with two distinctive treatments.  The north and east sides of the car park were closely planted with Pin oaks, developing a visual screen to reduce the prominence of the car park in views from the landscape west of Parliament House and from West Block itself.  Meanwhile, the south-west side of the car park triangle was completed with a broadly spaced row of alternating Atlantic cedar and Giant redwood (Sequiadendron giganteum, then described as Sequoia gigantea), continuing a more extensive double row of these trees which was planted on the next landscaped block along Commonwealth Avenue to the northwest.  This broadly-spaced treatment, in contrast to the density