m8_carro

The

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The

tree has been at the centre of a
year-long dispute between
Frederick Charles Twose and John
Gerard Carroll, both of Dalgetty
Rd., Beaumaris. 

Mr

Twose eventually took the matter
to court. 

In

August of last year, Mr Twose and
Mr Carroll had amicable
discussions about a new dividing
fence. 

The

only thing standing in the way was
the tree, which grows on the
boundary of the two properties. 

Its

base encroaches into the Twoses’
garden. The main trunk and
branches lean over into the
Carrolls’ property. 

Mr

Carroll wanted the tree preserved
at all costs. “It enhances my
garden.” he said. “And it has
great historical significance in
the area. It survived the 1940
bushfires.

“When

Mr and Mrs Twose bought the
property from us in 1955 I was a
member of the Beaumaris Tree
Preservation Society.” 

“I

told them that my wife and I were
keen to preserve the tree.” 

“We

had a gentleman’s agreement about
it.” 

“All

of a sudden they got this
obsession to remodel their garden.
Mr Twose wanted a clean fence so
decided the tree had to go.” 

Mr

Twose told The Advertiser: “At
first we did agree to build the
fence around the tree, but Mr
Carroll took so long to organise
things, we changed our minds.” 

Mr

Twose said that the tree was
interfering with his plans to
update his garden and he wanted to
extend his brick fence alongside
the wooden fence. 

Mr

Twose added: “The tree they’re
preserving is propped up with a
stake and has only a small amount
of foliage on top. It sways about
precariously in the wind and looks
as if it’s about to fall down.” 

The
president of the Beaumaris
Conservation Society,
ex-Sandringham councillor Mr Geoff
Goode, spoke on behalf of Mr
Carroll in court.

He

said the National Trust was
compiling a register of certain
trees with historic and natural
interest. 

“Before

Mr Carroll told me about his
problem, the society had already
decided to nominate certain trees
in Beaumaris.” 

“When

it was drawn to my attention that
this tree was threatened, I went
and looked at it.” 

“I

will recommend to the trust that
it be preserved. It has great
community value.” 

“Structures

have been modified in other houses
in Beaumaris to accommodate
special trees.” 

Mr

Gleeson ordered that a paling
fence be built to accommodate the
tree, and that Mr Twose, who
represented himself, pay $300
costs. 

Mrs Carroll
was relieved that it was all
over. 

“It’s been a long
year,” she said. “I don’t understand
why it’s taken so long. After all we
are neighbours.”