January 27, 2026

Did you know? Blaze Trees: Silent Markers of the Past

Did you know? Not all scarred trees are of Aboriginal cultural origin. Some, like the ones in these photos, were “blazed” by early European settlers, explorers, or surveyors to mark trails, boundaries, land parcels and even watercourses.

These scars were often made using iron/steel axes, and the cut marks of these tools alongside visible traces of white paint are typical indicators of a European origin. They were used as surveyor’s marks before being replaced by the permanent survey markers that form the basis of today’s cadastral maps.

You might be wondering: How do our expert archaeologists identify these blaze trees? These trees are identified by:
  • Iron axe cut marks
  • Remnants of white surveyor’s paint
  • Placement on fence lines, lot corners, or boundary points
Scarred trees, including these blazes, are all part of the multi-layered history written, or in this case - cut into our landscapes.

Other Redleaf Group new articles you might enjoy

January 28, 2026
We are excited to announce the launch of redleafgroupheritage.au , showcasing our expanded Heritage Team and our full range of Cultural Heritage, Built Heritage, Native Title, and Training services. On the new site you’ll find: Heritage service overview Profiles of our heritage specialists Project examples and tailored solutions Cultural awareness and heritage training opportunities We welcome your feedback and invite you to explore the new site. Contact: heritage@redleafgroup.au
January 28, 2026
Through the year our teams undertake training in various areas. Earlier in the year, the ecology team at Redleaf Group spent a day in the field understanding the importance of riparian revegetation and learning about the methods used to support its regeneration. Riparian vegetation refers to the plant life that grows along the banks of rivers, streams, creeks, and other flowing bodies of water. These plants play a vital role in stabilising soil along waterways, helping to reduce erosion and sedimentation. In turn, this supports the health of our ecosystems by maintaining water quality for the plants and animals that depend on these habitats. They visited sites with varying levels of success, which helped them to better understand factors to consider when embarking on revegetation projects. Some factors include suitability of species to be planted, soil types, topography and the existing vegetation. The team are keen to revisit the sites in the coming months and years to see the progress of the little seedlings.