Boab Prison Tree, Derby, Heritage site in Derby, Australia.
The Boab Prison Tree is a roughly 1500-year-old Adansonia gregorii in northern Australia whose trunk measures 14.7 meters (48 feet) in circumference and contains a naturally formed hollow cavity inside. The tree stands on flat, open ground near Derby and is surrounded by a protective fence.
Herbert Basedow documented the tree during his 1916 Kimberley expedition and noted that human bones inside indicated Aboriginal burial practices. This observation helped later visitors see the hollow trunk as a place of cultural importance.
Aboriginal communities of Western Kimberley refer to these trees as larrgadiy in their Nyulnyulan languages and regard each one as an individual being with its own character. This traditional perspective recognizes old specimens as living personalities woven into the country's story.
A fence around the tree prevents vehicles from compacting the ground and protects the structure from damage caused by heavy foot traffic. Access on foot remains possible, though visitors are asked to keep some distance to avoid stressing the roots.
Despite widespread belief that the tree served as a temporary prison for Indigenous people, no records exist in historical sources to support this claim. The narrative appears to have emerged later and reflects myth-making rather than documented facts.
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