A 2,200-year-old Huon pine tree ring has returned to its symbolic home at The Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart.
The ancient Pearce River Tree Ring, which dates back to before the birth of Christ, is now on public display in the IXL Atrium following negotiations with Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
Originally salvaged in 1975 from the Lake Gordon area before it was flooded by the Gordon Dam, the artefact was initially gifted to the Tasmanian Government by IXL Timber.
The tree ring features a detailed timeline mapping major world events across more than two millennia onto its growth rings.
Ross Boobyer, General Manager of The Henry Jones Art Hotel, said the collaboration celebrates Tasmania’s unique environmental legacy.
“We’re proud to partner with Sustainable Timber Tasmania in celebrating Tasmania’s heritage through the story of the Huon pine,” Boobyer said.
“This collaboration not only helps preserve this incredible natural legacy but also gives our guests, and the public, a very special opportunity to connect with Tasmania’s natural resources and history, firsthand.”
The ancient relic had spent a decade away from public view before the new installation.
Suzette Weeding, General Manager of Conservation and Land Management at Sustainable Timber Tasmania, described the art hotel as the ideal venue for the tree ring’s return.
“We’re delighted to see the Pearce River Tree Ring showcased in a space that celebrates the connection between art and nature. These special timbers are a strong reminder of Tasmania’s rich natural and cultural heritage,” Weeding said.
The Pearce River Tree Ring joins other Huon pine relics at the hotel, including a 750-year-old, 5.6-metre burled log nicknamed ‘Monster’ that was installed earlier this year.
Two more ancient specimens, carbon-dated to approximately 14,000 and 32,000 years old, will soon complete the collection.
