After some years of agitation, Queen Victoria signed the Australian Colonies Government Acton 5 August 1850 to separate the Port Phillip District from NSW to create the new independent Colony of Victoria.
When the news reached Melbourne from London on 11 November 1850 it was announced with great flourish under a tree at the northern end of the current Flagstaff Gardens.
The news about forming a new colony was then signalled to Melbourne residents by lighting a huge bonfire on Flagstaff Hill and putting up posters around the city.
Four days later on the 15 November, Governor Charles La Trobe led official celebrations in the Royal Botanic Gardens under a giant red gum that became known as the Separation Tree.
The legislation didn’t come into full effect until 1 July 1851.
Sadly, this magnificent tree was vandalised in 2010, and again in 2013, and subsequently died.
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 