Lucky last: 140 year old Norfolk Is. Pine on Churchill Is.

This is my final blog about Churchill Island, and I've chosen the Norfolk Island pine for lucky last -- because it's so special.

From a distance, Churchill Island appears as a small bump on the horizon, but it's a bump with a differences. Midway along the bump something tall extends skywards -- a 38 metre tall Norfolk Island pine.

Planted in 1872 by Samuel Amess -- and propagated by his friend Ferdinand Von Mueller at the Royal Botanic Gardens -- the tree is still growing strongly.

Its trunk is broad and invites you to touch, to stroke; to feel the strength flowing up from roots thrust deep into rich volcanic soil. Perhaps the roots have tapped into an underground water supply, but even if they haven't, rainfall on the island is regular and plentiful.

Samuel Amess planted the Norfolk Island pine on the highest point of the island, alongside his newly built home. Now, in the year 2012, it's a grand tree able to be seen from all around Western Port Bay. It's a definite landmark.

Running my fingers over the bark I felt its rough texture, heard a breeze playing in the topmost branches, smelt the distinctive aroma of pine. I continued to stroke, letting my mind drift, dream ----.

132 year old olive and mulberry trees: Churchill Island

Ever since visiting Italy I've loved olive and mulberry trees, especially old gnarled ones. Therefore, to discover similar trees growing at Churchill Island was a delight. These trees were planted in 1880 by Samuel Amess, with advice from his friend Ferdinand von Mueller -- of Melbourne Botanic Garden's fame.

Twisted limbs and knobbly bark suggest trees of a ripe old age. Supports have been necessary to strengthen some of the branches, but they live on, bearing fruit and delighting visitors to Churchill Island.

The white mulberry and common olive are listed on the Significant Trees Historic Register.

To feel the aged bark beneath my fingers and to gaze up into the twisted branches gives me a feeling of timelessness, and a strong feel of the life force the tree.