At the very summit of Stephens Mountain is a grove of casuarina. When I encounter them, these forests always tend to evoke a sense of of timelessness and isolation. Perhaps it’s because they grow next to the beach or high in the mountains. Or it might be the subtle sound I hear as breeze flows around their weeping foliage. This stand has almost certainly been derived from an ancient remnant seed-bank, preserved over time through isolation on this hilltop. There are other groves like this a few kilometres away, on the top of Toohey Ridge and near the summit of Mount Gravatt,but they are generally rare.
So it was pretty disappointing to see where someone has recently vandalised these trees by attacking them with a machete, ring-barking some and cutting down others. The proposed redevelopment of Stephens Mountain by the council will bring increased foot traffic to this area. Hopefully (but not certainly), the casuarinas will be conserved rather than lost.