Tourism operators in Western Australia's South West are celebrating the reopening of the iconic Gloucester Tree in Pemberton, which had been closed for three years due to structural and safety concerns. The tree, a major tourist attraction located 320 kilometres south of Perth, welcomed visitors again over the weekend, though official celebrations were delayed by bad weather.
Previously, visitors could climb 61 metres up the native karri tree without a harness or supervision. Now, the climb is limited to 37 metres, ending at a newly built viewing platform that offers panoramic views of the forest. The reduction in height was part of a safety upgrade ordered by WA authorities after the tree was abruptly closed in 2023.
Graeme Dearle, President of the Pemberton Visitors Centre, said the community's tourism industry would greatly benefit from the tree's reopening. 'We're really enthusiastic about the future of what the Gloucester Tree will do to the tourism industry and the people that it will attract,' he said. Dearle noted that the prolonged closure had diminished the tree's relevance and affected the local economy.
The Gloucester Tree, along with the nearby Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, has long been a drawcard for Pemberton and the surrounding Southern Forests region. The area has been working to pivot from its timber industry roots toward tourism, particularly targeting food enthusiasts. Shire of Manjimup President Donelle Buegge described the view from the top as 'magnificent' and said the tree serves as a bridge between the town's history and its future.
