Armstrong Park, shoe tree

HER Number

9878

District

Newcastle

Site Name

Armstrong Park, shoe tree

Place

Heaton

Map Sheet

NZ26NE

Class

Monument <By Form>

Site Type: Broad

Natural Feature

Site Type: Specific

Tree

General Period

POST MEDIEVAL

Specific Period

Victorian 1837 to 1901

Form of Evidence

Structure

Description

This is a unique local tradition spontaneously carried on by the local community in Heaton. The tree is decorated with shoes that have been thrown over the branches. This novelty piece of public art has also been the subject of a recent novel, The Taxi Driver’s Daughter by Julia Darling. LOCAL LIST

Easting

426530

Northing

565700

Grid Reference

NZ426530565700

Sources

Newcastle City Council, 2006, Local List of Buildings, Structures, Parks, Gardens and Open Spaces of Special Local Architectural or Historic Interest Supplementary Planning Document