Pumby Brush Walk

Whalebone tree

The tree under which you are standing is a Whalebone tree (Streblus brunonianus), a remnant of the original vegetation. The whalebone tree would have once been just one part of the complex rainforest ecosystem with many massive trees and a tangle of vines.

The vine thicket, including Round Leaf, Snake, Staff and Wonga vines with two species of water vine, is the only patch like this remaining in the tidal area of the lower Hunter. The forest grew as a thick brush and early settlers and surveyors in the region spoke of how difficult it was to penetrate the original vine forests of the Hunter and Paterson valleys.

Forming a point between the lagoon and Webbers Creek, this small piece of land was too small to turn farm machinery around. As the trees in this area were of no value for their timber, they were never harvested, so this small area escaped being cleared.

Photo at right: The Whalebone tree in Pumby Brush, surrounded by a vine thicket.

Walk the walk: you can walk along Pumby Brush walk when Tocal Homestead is open to the public (Homestead admission fee applies) - opening details.