This group of seven Sequoiadendron giganteum was planted by the Hon. William Robinson and his gardeners to commemorate the death of seven draught horses that died in the Cheviot Hills Estate stable fire on 29 May 1870. The trees are planted close to each other in the pine walk area of the original homestead gardens. The tallest, while not quite as tall as the Pinus ponderosa in the same area (see CR/2020 for details), has a very impressive height. S. W. Burstall noted in his 1970 mensuration report [1] that it was probably the tallest in North Canterbury, and one of the tallest in New Zealand. The girth measurement at 1.4 metres for the tallest specimen of the seven was 860 cm, and several of the group look to be upwards of 45 metres tall. The giant redwoods are an impressive backdrop when viewed from the cricket pavilion part of the Cheviot Hills Reserve (see CR/G2018 for a photo).
Lloyd, M., 2024

References
1] S.W. Burstall, 1970. Historic and Notable Trees of New Zealand. North Canterbury, South Canterbury, and Chatham Islands. Forest Mensuration Report no. 22. New Zealand Forest Service.