<p>National trust of Victoria award celebrates much-loved arboreal icons while calling for protection of green spaces</p><p>For more than 160 years, a humble ginkgo tree raised from seed in Geelong’s botanic gardens has been the backdrop to “countless local love stories”. Standing beneath it is the most popular spot to get married at the park, its branches forming the backdrop of many wedding photos.</p><p>Now, in addition to being the largest inkgo biloba in the state – and possibly Australia – at a whopping 20 metres tall, it has a new claim to fame. The much-adored Geelong icon has been crowned <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/23/gums-gingkos-and-a-golden-wych-elm-voting-for-victorias-tree-of-the-year">Victoria’s tree of the year</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/28/backdrop-for-countless-local-love-stories-geelong-gingko-named-victorian-tree-of-the-year">Continue reading...</a>
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‘Backdrop for countless local love stories’: Geelong gingko named Victorian tree of the year
<p>National trust of Victoria award celebrates much-loved arboreal icons while calling for protection of green spaces</p><p>For more than 160 years, a humble ginkgo tree raised from seed in Geelong’s botanic gardens has been the backdrop to “countless local love stories”. Standing beneath it is the most popular spot to get married at the park, its branches forming the backdrop of many wedding photos.</p><p>Now, in addition to being the largest inkgo biloba in the state – and possibly Australia – at a whopping 20 metres tall, it has a new claim to fame. The much-adored Geelong icon has been crowned <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/sep/23/gums-gingkos-and-a-golden-wych-elm-voting-for-victorias-tree-of-the-year">Victoria’s tree of the year</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/28/backdrop-for-countless-local-love-stories-geelong-gingko-named-victorian-tree-of-the-year">Continue reading...</a>