University of Sydney students, both past are present, are mourning the death of the quadrangle’s iconic jacaranda tree, which yesterday collapsed.
Professional arborists were called in to remove what was left just hours after the sad news surfaced:
The @Sydney_Uni Jacaranda. Dead this morning, gone this afternoon: pic.twitter.com/W6c9nF2YXB
— Honi Soit (@honi_soit) October 29, 2016
Because it was a giant among trees, floral tributes are being placed at the former of the 88-year-old tree, propped up against the nearest sandstone wall in loving memory.
Stopped by the @Sydney_Uni Quadrangle on my way to @CFFSydney. Sadly, the reports are true. RIP #jacarandatree pic.twitter.com/uKD8MaFr5j
— Craig Bromley (@bromleyca) October 29, 2016
It’s expected the number of funereal bouquets will increase dramatically tomorrow, when students return for the first day of study since the tree’s untimely demise.
Meanwhile, it’s being remembered on social media as “iconic”, “magical” and “Sydney Uni’s only redeeming feature”.
The tree has been standing tall since 1928; it was the subject of enduring student folklore, for any undergrad who hadn’t started studying for finals before the tree’s first bloom appeared was doomed to fail.
The community is finding some small comfort in the uni’s promise that, eventually, a direct descendent of the original jacaranda will stand in its place.
“In 2014 the University advised that that the jacaranda was nearing the end of its natural life and hired a specialist jacaranda grower to take cuttings,” read a statement. “Grafted onto the base of other jacarandas, the cuttings have produced two clones. This means that the University will be able to replace the jacaranda with genetically identical stock.”
Until then, we mourn.
Photo: Honi Soit.
