A ginkgo tree planted more than 160 years ago in Geelong’s botanic gardens has been named Victoria’s tree of the year for 2026. Towering at 20 metres, it is the largest ginkgo biloba in the state and possibly in Australia. The tree has long been a prominent feature of the gardens, serving as a popular backdrop for weddings and local gatherings.

The National Trust of Australia (Victoria), which administers the annual tree of the year awards, announced on Tuesday that the Geelong ginkgo received 27% of 4,435 public votes, beating eight other finalists. The smooth bark apple myrtle from Prahran finished second, while the myrtle beech from Apollo Bay placed third. Trees eligible for the award must be listed on the National Trust’s significant tree register, which includes roughly 2,500 trees deemed important for their cultural, scientific, or historical value. This year, over 40 trees were nominated, with a panel of 12 experts and arboriculturists narrowing the field to nine finalists.

The ginkgo was planted in 1859, only two decades after Geelong was formally established. Its seeds are believed to have been brought from China by a visiting ship’s captain. The species is known for its unique characteristics, including unusual stalactite-like growths on older female specimens—and the fruit, which is infamous for its strong odor. Ginkgos, often called maidenhairs, are among the oldest tree species on Earth, with origins dating back more than 160 million years to the Jurassic period. The tree holds cultural significance in several countries; for instance, in Japan, it symbolizes hope and longevity, partly because six ginkgos survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.

Sheree Parker, supervisor of the Geelong botanic gardens, described the tree as “one of the first” planted in the park and its “most visited and talked about.” She noted the tree is beginning new growth after a period of dormancy, expressing enthusiasm for its future.

The tree of the year competition was created in 2016 to celebrate Victoria’s iconic trees and to promote the protection of urban green spaces. Recent studies have shown significant tree canopy loss in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, with Stonnington city council reporting a decline of more than 17.9 hectares over the past decade on private lands alone.

The National Trust is advocating for stronger legal protections for trees on the significant tree register and those managed by local councils. It supports introducing a “retain first” planning principle to ensure tree removal is only considered as a last resort. While the Victorian government has introduced some uniform protections for canopy trees in the past year, National Trust executive manager Justin Buckley described these measures as “quite limited,” emphasizing that important trees can still be removed without permits.

Buckley stressed that unlike heritage buildings, significant trees lack adequate safeguards and cannot simply be replaced once removed. He highlighted the ongoing challenge of balancing urban development with the preservation of valuable green spaces, especially as population growth intensifies pressure on the environment.