Geeveston’s Arve Big Tree to live on in AR

Geeveston’s fallen Arve Big Tree, which was sadly destroyed in the summer 2019 bushfires, will be re-created in augmented reality (AR) so that people can experience and remember the tree’s natural wonder.

The Huon Valley Council thanks the Tasmanian Government for funding this project through the Economic and Community Recovery Fund and the Regional Tourism Projects Program.

An interpretive plinth will be constructed as a base for launching the AR experience, providing a memorial to commemorate the bushfires and a place for people to reflect on our community’s strength in recovery, as well as learn about the Big Tree and its story.

Council is pleased to be able to team up with local businesses to deliver this meaningful project in 2021.

Ninapatina and Flux Engineering of Port Huon will construct the plinth out of corten steel, mimicking the tree’s real footprint.

The memorial will feature two benches crafted from salvaged pieces of the Big Tree itself, with quotes taken from the two Huon Beings short films that were produced post fires, cut into the plinth as a way to reflect on our community’s experience of bushfire.

Handbuilt Creative – the creators of Geeveston’s first AR project, Huon Platypus – are developing the digital experience with care and careful attention to detail.

The project highlights a unique drawcard of the Tasmanian visitor experience, our amazing giant trees and ancient forests. Using new digital storytelling technologies, it will encourage more visitors to stop in Geeveston and engage more deeply with our place and history.

People will be able to access the AR experience using a free, easy-to-use app downloadable to their own devices.

About the Arve Big Tree

The Arve Big Tree was more than 500 years old, and stood at an astonishing 87m tall! It had survived several fire events, including the ’67 bushfires, however succumbed to the 2019 event where it burnt from the inside out, and collapsed.

The Arve Big Tree was one of the few most accessible giant trees, and is listed on the Tasmanian giant tree register.

Many visitors to Tahune had the delight of stopping and gazing upwards at the sheer height of this beautiful swamp gum (Eucalyptus regnans).