Number 73 in Burstall’s book of Great Trees, this pōhutukawa took its place in that publication as being one of the first plantings of the species outside its natural range. The tree was one of the first plantings (in the 1840s) of Alfred (not Arthur as noted by Burstall) Ludlam in his 37 acre farmed residence “Newry” at Waiwhetu.

Ludlam, born in Ireland, was an enthusiastic horticulturist, member of Parliament for Hutt, and a prime mover for the establishment of the Wellington Botanic Gardens. His own “Scientific and Ornamental” garden of 9 acres was renowned. Upon his death in 1877, nurseryman James McNab purchased the gardens and opened them to the public as “McNab’s Gardens” for nearly 20 years.

The property was purchased from McNab’s widow in 1896 by a Mrs Ross, who converted the residence into a hotel, and started the subdivision of the surrounding farmland. The hotel and gardens were sold to Messer’s Lodder and Orr in 1900 – they renamed the site to “Bellevue”, as it is commonly known now. Upon Lodder’s death in 1911, the land was managed by the Public Trust, with little care given to the upkeep of the gardens, until the entire property was subdivided in 1922.

Today the specimen plantings are spread across a diplomatic residence (“Camperdown”, the US ambassador’s house), the current day Bellevue Gardens bar and restaurant, Te Omanga Hospice, and other private residences. Another pōhutukawa at 81 Ludlam Cres, planted by Ludlam soon after the feature tree, has become one of the best ornamental plantings in the region, not being constrained as the feature tree by the current day hotel, rebuilt closer to the road after the original building burnt down in 1916, and numerous pruning/lifting/thinning that has occured over the years.

See also WTR/0360, WTR/G1980 and WTR/G1984 for associated plantings within Ludlam’s original gardens.

Smillie, 2026

Selected Bibliography:

Alfred Ludlam, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Ludlam

The Finest Villa Residential Site in the Hutt, https://wellington.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/11875

Bellevue Gardens Hotel, https://huttcitylibraries.co.nz/2016/09/04/bellevue-gardens-hotel

Burstall and Sale, Great Trees of New Zealand, 1984 (page 174)

McNab Family, https://www.knox.org.nz/mcnab-family

Hutt News, 20/1/2010, https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/hutt-news/3244927/Tree-causing-woman-stress