Norfolk Island Pine Trees, Cleveland

The Norfolk Island Pine Trees are five large conifers at Shore Street North in Cleveland Point that rise prominently above the surrounding landscape. They stand between the former Cleveland Hotel and Paxton Street, defining the streetscape with their distinctive height.

Francis Bigge planted these Norfolk Island Pines in the 1860s as part of his plan to establish Cleveland as a competing port to Brisbane. The trees quickly became prominent landmarks of the town.

The trees served as reliable reference points for fishermen when poor weather made returning to shore difficult. They were indispensable landmarks for the local maritime community.

The trees are easily accessible along Shore Street North and serve as good reference points when exploring the area. The best time to visit is during daylight hours when you can clearly see the structure and height of the specimens.

A photograph from 1871 shows that the trees barely rose above the height of the nearby Bell Vue house at that time. The image documents the remarkable growth story of these trees over more than 150 years.