Iconic Gloucester Tree reopens after three-year closure

Tourism operators in WA's South West are celebrating the reopening of landmark tourist attraction, the Gloucester Tree, after its abrupt closure three years ago.

Visitors were allowed to make the historic climb up the native karri tree, located in Pemberton, 320 kilometres south of Perth, over the weekend, even though bad weather delayed official opening celebrations.

The attraction, which previously allowed visitors to climb 61 metres into the forest canopy without a harness or supervision, has reduced the height to which tourists can climb to 37 metres.

Once there, visitors land at a newly built viewing platform overlooking the forest.

For decades, the Gloucester Tree, along with the neighbouring Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, served as major visitor drawcards for Pemberton and surrounding communities.

A combination of structural issues and safety concerns prompted WA authorities to close the attraction to climbers in 2023 and order a safety upgrade.

A tourist "rite of passage"

Pemberton Visitors Centre President Graeme Dearle said the community's relatively young tourism sector would benefit greatly from the tree's reopening.

"We're really enthusiastic about the future of what the Gloucester Tree will do to the tourism industry and the people that it will attract," he said.

"This is one of our bigger drawcards to the region and to have it closed was quite frustrating."

Mr Dearle said the tree's closure had affected the tourism industry and the community at large.

"The longer it was closed, the more relevance it lost," he said.

"When you grow up in the area with an attraction, such as the Gloucester Tree, it does become a rite of passage and to see it closed was definitely a loss.

"It's a valued asset for the community and also as a tourism icon for a tourism town."

The town and surrounding Southern Forests region have spent more than a decade targeting travelling foodies in particular, as it pivots away from its timber industry roots.

Incredible views

Shire of Manjimup President Donelle Buegge said the view from the top was unmatched.

"It is a magnificent view," she said. "To watch the sunrise through the canopies of the trees is absolutely incredible."

Ms Buegge said the tree was a bridge between the town's timber industry roots and its new tourism focus.