The Herbig Family Tree
Historical Sites and Heritage Locations
The Herbig Family Tree is a large, hollow red gum tree at located on Angaston Road at Springton.
It is estimated to be up to 500 years old with a diameter of seven metres at its base and a height of 24 metres.
The Herbig Family Tree was the first Australian home of 27 year old Friedrich Herbig who arrived in South Australia in 1855. Friedrich married 18 year old Caroline Rattey in 1858 and took her to live in the tree home. The first two of their 16 children were born there.
In 1860, Friedrich built a two roomed pine and pug hut nearby. The family lived in the hut until they built a stone cottage on the adjacent site.
The Peramangk people once utilised the Herbig Family Tree as shelter. You can still see the tree's coolamon scars (evidence of Aboriginal people carving wooden dishes out of the tree's bark). The site remains an important place of Peramangk culture and connection.
Today the Herbig Family Tree remains a tangible link to both Indigenous and early European local heritage.
The Herbig Family Tree was the first Australian home of 27 year old Friedrich Herbig who arrived in South Australia in 1855. Friedrich married 18 year old Caroline Rattey in 1858 and took her to live in the tree home. The first two of their 16 children were born there.
In 1860, Friedrich built a two roomed pine and pug hut nearby. The family lived in the hut until they built a stone cottage on the adjacent site.
The Peramangk people once utilised the Herbig Family Tree as shelter. You can still see the tree's coolamon scars (evidence of Aboriginal people carving wooden dishes out of the tree's bark). The site remains an important place of Peramangk culture and connection.
Today the Herbig Family Tree remains a tangible link to both Indigenous and early European local heritage.