Many people know of the BumTree, but few are privileged to know its real story.
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A local Berry man was able to reveal to Fairfax the fascinating story behind the tree’s unique feature.
1n 1966 a 13-year-old boy who lived in Berry hit upon the idea of visiting some mates in Gerroa. He borrowed a car that belonged to his sister’s boyfriend.
His driving skills were not up to task. He took the corner of Beach and Gerroa roads a mite too quickly and slammed into a young gum tree, not much more than a sapling.
The boy ended up in Wollongong Hospital with several injuries, but survived the experience.
The tree was severely damaged, but over time new growth covered the scarring done to the sapwood in the accident.
Over the following decades, the new growth developed into the round, well-formed and cheeky feature that has made the tree famous all over the land.
