A 2,200-year-old Huon pine tree ring has returned to its symbolic home at The Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart, ending a decade-long absence from public view. The Pearce River Tree Ring — which predates the birth of Christ — is now on display in the hotel’s IXL Atrium following negotiations with Sustainable Timber Tasmania.
Salvaged from Lake Gordon in 1975, shortly before the Gordon Dam flooded the area, the artefact was originally gifted to the Tasmanian Government by IXL Timber. Its growth rings display a finely detailed timeline charting major world events spanning more than two millennia.
Ross Boobyer, General Manager of The Henry Jones Art Hotel, said the installation celebrates Tasmania’s unique legacy. “We’re proud to partner with Sustainable Timber Tasmania in celebrating Tasmania’s heritage through the story of the Huon pine,” Boobyer told Pulse Tasmania today. “This collaboration not only helps preserve this incredible natural legacy but also gives our guests, and the public, a very special opportunity to connect with Tasmania’s natural resources and history, firsthand.”
The Pearce River Tree Ring’s return follows a ten-year absence from public display. Suzette Weeding, General Manager of Conservation and Land Management at Sustainable Timber Tasmania, said the art hotel was the ideal venue for its reappearance. “We’re delighted to see the Pearce River Tree Ring showcased in a space that celebrates the connection between art and nature. These special timbers are a strong reminder of Tasmania’s rich natural and cultural heritage,” Weeding said.
The installation joins other Huon pine relics at the hotel, including a 750-year-old, 5.6-metre burled log nicknamed “Monster,” which was installed earlier this year. Two more ancient specimens — carbon-dated to approximately 14,000 and 32,000 years old — will soon complete the collection.
