Lake County Nursery

The last tree standing (since removed) and the commemorative plaque, originally attached to the tree, but now located on the roadside.

In 1879, Lakes County Councillor and resident of Pembroke, Robert McDougall, was instrumental in establishing a tree nursery up the Cardrona Valley and about 10km from Pembroke on reserve land of 25 acres. This was to be for the benefit of the whole district including Queenstown.

The initial planting was of 3,000 conifers and 500 deciduous seedlings. In 1881, despite rabbits laying waste to 20,000 seedlings, 26,000 survived.

In 1882, trees were advertised for sale. The nursery became the source of all the Sequoia gigantea trees planted in Pembroke, the remaining ones being those outside of Robert McDougall’s cottage in McDougall Street.