Zone 1 - Frontline Coastal

New Zealand Christmas Trees in Isabel Avenue ValcluseThese areas are directly exposed to strong salt-laden winds. The original vegetation would have consisted of low, wind pruned heath plants. The soils are sandy and skeletal with little or no organic matter and are often only a thin layer over a bedrock of sandstone.

The areas range from the strip of cliff tops from Dover Heights and Vaucluse, down to the North Bondi headlands including Bondi Beach and headlands south to Clovelly. It also includes some streets directly exposed to southerly winds.

Choosing suitable trees for this zone is difficult and the species listed below are recognised as performing moderately well given the extreme conditions.

Streetscape Character

In Dover Heights and Vaucluse the coastal streets are generally wide with expansive grassy naturestrips. This is usually ideal for optimum growth of street trees; however, these wide streets are mostly exposed with little protection from direct salt laden winds. Harsh conditions and occasional poor tree selection have resulted in bare appearances in some streets.

The footpaths in the commercial zones around Bondi are mostly concreted and require specific species selection.

Dominant Trees

Common name Botanical name
Coastal Banksia Banksia integrifolia
Bracelet Honey Myrtle Melaleuca armillaris
Bottlebrush Callistemon citrinus
New Zealand Christmas Bush Metrosideros excelsa
Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla

Preferred Tree Species

SizeCommon nameBotanical name
S* Coastal Wattle Acacia sophorae
Silver Banksia Banksia marginata
Coastal Tea Tree Leptospermum laevigatum
Coastal Banksia Banksia integrifolia
M* Horsetail Casuarina Casuarina equisetifolia
Bracelet Honey Myrtle Melaleuca armillaris
Moonah Melaleuca lanceolata
New Zealand Christmas Bush Metrosideros excelsa
Cook Island Pine or New Caledonia Pine Araucaria columnaris
L* Norfolk Island Pine Araucaria heterophylla
Cotton Palm Washingtonia robusta
Cabbage Tree Palm Livistona australis

*Small (to 6 metres), Medium (6 to 12 metres), Large (over 12 metres)

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