Summary
The 'Penny Tree' was a hollow tree in Gippsland that Nicholas Penny and his family lived in circa 1907.
The photograph taken by M. Lowenhardt Studio features John Green (neighbour), Mrs Eva Penny sitting inside the tree holding Charlie, May (holding a cat), George and Mr Nicolas Penny (with a dog).
'The family lived in the hollowed-out butt for nine months in 1906-1907. It was 20 feet across at floor level with 12 feet of head room inside. Nicholas Penny ring-barked the tree in 1905, with it being 130 feet high with the top broken off. The fires the following year destroyed the tent in which he was living and hollowed out the tree. After "making a few alterations" Penny moved in and brought his wife and children across from Outtrim. They later built a more permanent home. The tree was destroyed in the 1926 bushfires.'.
Description of Content
A family in front of their home which has been cut inside a large tree.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
Home & Community, Images & Image Making, Working Life & Trades, Sustainable Futures
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Acquisition Information
Copied from Arthur Christmas, 18 Apr 1988
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Place & Date Depicted
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Creator
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Individuals Identified
Nicholas Penny; Eva Penny; Charlie Penny; May Penny; George Penny; John Green
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Format
Negative, 35 mm, Black & White
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Inscriptions
White text, lower edge: 'SELECTOR'S HOME FUMINA COPYRIGHT LOWENHARDT'.
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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References
Silcock, C et al. 1996, 'The Penny Tree', Gippsland Historical Journal, March, p. 39.
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Keywords
Camp Fires, Cooking Utensils, Dogs, Domestic Animals, Domestic Environment, Families, Houses, Logging, Tools
