Future Proofing the Cabbage Tree Palm Project - Community Launch

Join us to secure the future of Kiama’s iconic Cabbage Tree Palms.

A single Cabbage Tree Palm standing tall amidst Kiama’s green hills is an emblem of our local landscape. The Cabbage Tree Palm Livistona australis, known as Dharawal by the First Nations people of the Illawarra, was used for multiple purposes. The tender tips could be eaten, the trunk used for building, and the leaves were used as fibres for weaving and thatching on shelters.

These majestic palms can live over a century, reaching heights of up to 30m. While they once thrived along NSW’s east coast rainforest margins, most of the rainforest has been cleared, leaving only scattered paddock trees that are struggling to regenerate naturally.

Landcare Illawarra wants to work with local property owners in the Kiama area to preserve this unique species. We’ll provide juvenile plants, fencing, and advice on maintenance and companion species to help ensure a thriving future for the Cabbage Tree Palm.

Join us on Thursday, 14 November, for our community launch event where we’ll share more about this project.

Presenters

• Hosted by Alison Windsor, Foxground Landcare and Landcare Illawarra committee member
• Aunty Gwenda Jarrett, Dharawal Elder
• Ailee Calderbank, Vice Chair Landcare Illawarra
• Barb Mathie, Foxground Landcare
• Sue Brian, historian, weaver and traditional hatter

Format

5.30pm Doors open for plant display and cabbage tree hat weaving demonstration
6.00pm Presentations start:

• Indigenous Knowledge and local Dharawal people’s relationship with the Cabbage Palm
  
• Biology and ecology of the Livistona australis
• Past regeneration projects in the district
• The history of the colonial cabbage tree hats, and weaving with cabbage palm leaves

6.40pm Discussion on project options, with questions from the audience and open forum
7.30pm Refreshments
8.00pm Close

Be part of preserving our heritage and future proofing our landscape.