Old Albert Free

Grand and distinctive because of its aerial roots, this is one of the largest Morton Bay Fig trees in New Zealand. Fondly known as ‘Old Albert’ it was planted from a seedling taken from Albert Park in Auckland city in 1883.

Also known as the Australian Banyan tree, these trees can develop impressive buttress roots, as well as aerial roots that act as supportive props for their heavy branches.

Don’t look for any flowers at any time of the year; these are fig trees, and the fruit serves as the flowers. They are pollinated by tiny fig wasps that live within them. The Morton Bay Fig Wasp was not present in New Zealand until 1993 so the giant fig trees we see today were all planted from cuttings.

There is another Moreton Bay Fig Tree with impressive buttress roots just across the park on the far side of the bandstand.

Victoria and Albert

Besides ‘Old Albert’, numerous places in Devonport are named after Britain’s Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert (1891-1861), including Mount Victoria, Victoria Wharf, The Victoria Theatre, Victoria Road and Albert Road.

Continuing with the royal theme, the musical notes on the bandstand behind Old Albert represent bars of ‘God Save The King’. Try walking around the bandstand and humming the tune as you follow the notes!