Crews begin removing Randwick’s historic ‘tree of knowledge’ secretly ahead of schedule

LOVERS of The Tree of Knowledge have put in the shade those in charge of removing the historic tree as part of the Sydney light rail project after secretly bringing the removal date forward and sending crews in last night under the cover of darkness.

Crews begin removing the tree last night. Picture: Bill Hearne

• ‘Tree of Knowledge’ felled to make way for Sydney Light Rail
• Battle is on to save the ‘Tree of Knowledge’
• Protesters chain themselves to trees

RESIDENTS of Randwick gathered together last night to rally against the massacre of an ancient Moreton Bay fig tree at the heart of the community’s cultural heritage.

The historic tree, affectionately known as the ‘Tree of Knowledge’, is being ripped down to make way for the Sydney light rail project.

More than 50 locals and concerned Sydneysiders braved the cold last night when they turned up at the corner of High Street and Wansey Road to make their feelings known.

They gathered at the scene with signs and banners condemning the decision to remove the tree “for no real reason” and were chanting “shame Mike Baird”.

Protesters voiced their outrage at the removal of the tree last night. Picture: Bill Hearne

Residents said the tree’s removal was “sneaky” because they were told the final word on the tree’s fate wouldn’t be given until November this year.

Former mayor of Randwick Council Tony Bowen said he was “very upset” the tree was getting the chop and even more appalled it was happening under the cover of darkness

“The council was told the tree was safe until November to give UNSW and transport NSW time to find an alternative that would protect the historic tree,” he said.

“And now on a Sunday night in the middle of the school holidays, it’s being taken down.”

John Bellamy from the Sydney Light Rail action group said he was absolutely “heartbroken”.

“The government can’t actually give us any benefits for the light rail,” he said.

“Every time I ask them to give us one benefit for the CBD and southeast light rail project, they only give me silence.”

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People gather in front of the 'tree of knowledge' to protest its removal.

A Facebook page set up by action group Save Sydney’s Trees was used to try and notify as many residents as they could.

Protester Beth Taylor said she thought it was no coincidence the tree had suddenly been chopped down.

“If Malcolm Turnbull didn’t announce he had won the election, this project wouldn’t have gone ahead,” he said.

UNSW Student Alexandra Auhl said the entire community would be grieving the loss of the tree.

“There is something very special about this tree for students walking to campus,” she said.

Ms Auhl even went as far as to say the loss of the tree “would be felt around the world.”

Workers wait to start cutting down a tree to make way for the light rail in Randwick. Picture: John Grainger

Two arborists started to chainsaw branches off the 25m high tree from a cherry picker at 7:30pm on Sunday.

Police were on scene calming down the boisterous mob and monitoring the traffic diversions put in place around the area.

Michelle Lee has been a resident of Randwick all her life and grew up around the corner from the sacred tree, which is believed to date back to the 1860s.

“They were supposed to hold off on the decision until November but they have gone ahead and just done it. We thought we had time,” she said

“It’s more than just a tree.”