I could be accused of being ‘off with the fairies’ sometimes. Particularly today, when I am procrastinating rather than doing my work and sitting inside rather than walking in the sun. It is a lovely day out there. Early spring sunshine but still a little chilly.
On the weekend we visited the Fitzroy Gardens. It was starting to get dark by the time we arrived but I wanted to visit The Fairies’ Tree. Actually, it was a good time to go, we had the park almost to ourselves except for a wedding photographer and a bridal party who must have liked the idea of atmospheric, almost eerie, wedding photos.
I think the kookaburras are my favourite at the moment. I have even taken to calling my cat Kooka which she doesn’t seem to mind.
The Fairies’ Tree is an old redgum stump which was decorated, with fairies and native animals, by the artist Ola Cohn in the early 1930s. The stump is over 300 years old and well and truly outdates the park which was reserved in 1848.
This really is a magical tree. I love the emu, the lizard and the pelican.
On the plaque at the foot of the tree is the foreword to one of Ola Coln’s books – The Fairies’ Tree
A gift to the children of Melbourne
“I have carved a tree in The Fitzroy Gardens for you and the fairies, but mostly for the fairies, and those who believe in them, for they will understand how necessary it is to have a fairy sanctuary – a place that is sacred and safe as a home should be to all living creatures.
Therefore I dedicate this book to children and fairies, as it is to them I owe my inspiration.”
Ola Coln
Melbourne,
23rd of May, 1932.
I can remember being taken to see the tree as a child, probably by my mother. I remember being enthralled by the idea that fairies lived in the wood. Ah, the days when fairies were obviously real.
I remember a ring of mushrooms that grew in our backyard one year, and as a child, I already knew from reading my important childhood books, that you must not step inside that ring or you would be whisked away by the wee folk and never returned. I was tempted to try it but I stayed away because the magic, to a child, well this child, was real.
Filed under: Melbourne, Melbourne history, gardens, life, treasures | Tagged: The Fairies Tree
I have seen the fairy tree, but it looked nothing like that LiD. It was all muted and indistinct. It must have had a renovation.
Andrew,
I know, its looking pretty good for an all-weather artwork.
The tree was restored in 1997 thanks to Dame Murdoch, The Lions Club and Friends of the Fairies’ Tree.
i love the tree. as a child i had favorite trees and this definitely would have been one.
wait….i still have favorite trees….
I love the stump — very well done by the artist. And I totally would have stepped into that mushroom ring.
goodbear,
Isn’t it beautiful! I still have favourite trees too, and I have always had fond memories of The Fairies Tree. It’s like a rite of passage to visit this tree when you are a child.
James,
It is a gorgeous piece of work. The artist used the natural forms of the old stump to guide which creatures emerged. As for the fairy ring – it was an enormous temptation but the books were contradictory on whether the experience would be wonderful or drudgery lol.
Love visiting the Fairy Tree, I’ve often dragged FB over to see it when we’re at the gardens. It was such a treat to see it when I was a kid
Jayne,
‘Tis gorgeous and such a Melbourne tradition.
I remember hearing that children would leave notes for the fairies and a postbox was going to be set up by the tree but that must have been too hard for the park authorities to manage.
What a beautiful piece of work! The renovation seems to have kept to earth tones, very good choices.
And I’m with James, I would’ve stepped into that fairy ring — several times — and gone to bed hoping to try again early the next morning. Such shameless ingrates we children are…
lavenderbay,
I really like those greens and dusty pinks – such 1930’s colours I think. It is very lovingly restored and is weathering well.
Lol, regarding the fairy ring. Now I wish I had given it a go but I was a cautious child and very concerned about being whisked away so I took no chances. I am smiling now with the lovely idea of you and James, as kids, jumping in and out of this perfect ring of mushrooms. Gorgeous.
Apparently you were right to respect fairy rings — are you still off with the fairies?
Lol, yes and no. Time is a mystery to me. Where did it go ? I guess that’s fairy rings for you. I still haven’t worked out how to keep everything going at the same time so sometimes I need to drift away a wee bit.
Gorgeous!
Best to remember though, not all fairies are kind, the dark ones are best avoided…
[...] E.g. and I walked too near a “thin place”. Too much magic, too many sprites. And as Livingisdetail can tell you, the wee folk deserve our respect. There were tears; it was briefly worse before it was [...]
Hi Miladysa,
Thanks for visiting. It is beautiful, isn’t it. Yes, I found some great old anecdotes from Ireland pre- 1930’s and some of those stories were definitely not about friendly fairies. Quite the opposite.