Golf course plan keeps Lone Pine

ERIN PEARSON AND KIM WATERS
A MEMORIAL pine to fallen soldiers will remain in place as work goes on around it to redevelop the former Geelong Golf Course for a residential estate, according to developers.
A Links Living spokesperson said the Lone Pine would remain “exactly where it is” to become part of a new nine-hole course planned for the site.
The spokesperson welcomed a Legacy Geelong plan to reinstall a memorial plaque at the site after construction of the course was complete.
The Independent revealed last year that Legacy Geelong members were concerned developers would destroy the five-metre-high pine.
An arborist assessment revealed the tree would probably die if Legacy tried to moved it to an alternative location.
Legacy Geelong’s John Burton praised Links Living’s decision to retain the tree.
“We hoped nothing would happen to it,” Mr Burton said.
“This is wonderful news and it’s great for Legacy.”
Mr Burton said Legacy planted the tree in 1994 during the former golf club club’s centenary to remember the region’s war dead.
The tree was a descendant of Australia’s first Lone Pine, which was planted at Warrnambool from a Gallipoli cone.