It’s the end of an era in the Kimberley after an iconic boab tree – which has been visited by thousands upon thousands of grey nomads – came crashing down to earth.
The 1,000-year-old tree at Ellenbrae Station on the Gibb River Road fell after being bombarded by heavy rains last week. The tree became famous among travellers after an outdoor bath tub was installed underneath it in the 1960s, and it became a popular photo opportunity.
Station manager, Larissa White, told WA Today that the boab most likely cracked after rain filled its hollowed-out branches and made it top heavy.
“We had 26 millimetres of rain the night before and then the next day we woke up and saw a big crack on the boab tree and thought, ‘no not on our watch, you’ve lived hundreds of years!” she said. “We certainly shed a tear and had a drink for the boab tree.”
According to WA Today, the station has long been a massive hit with tourists due to the boab tree … and Ms White’s famous scones. Between May and September, she apparently bakes nearly 10,000 scones for customers.
weremember the boab and the scones from our trip last year along the GRR . However our lasting memory of our stay at Ellenbrae was me losing my prescription specs when i dived into the lagoon specs on and emerged specs off ! Couldn,t find them but a young couple we had drinks with around the camp fire volunteered to have a look in the morning – well two or three dives later up came Mark(?) with my glasses ! Phew . Needless to say scones were on us .