Local and international volunteers planted more than 1000 native trees indigenous to the area on the former cattle grazing site.

As the name suggests, Wollemi Grove will feature the world’s oldest and rarest tree, the Wollemi Pine.

The Wollemi was discovered in 1994 deep in a valley in the neighbouring Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Emirates Hotels and Resorts conservation partner Australian Ecosystems Foundation has worked closely with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Officer David Noble who discovered the Wollemi Pine to create a grove using native plants that will complement the Wollemi Pines and ensure the new eco-system thrives and attracts indigenous fauna back to the area.

“Having just completed the first phase of our regeneration and conservation program by removing all the noxious plants, weeds and non-indigenous flora from the site we are delighted to be starting the next phase of the program on National Tree Day by planting more than 1000 native trees,” the Manager Hotel Projects Australia for Emirates Hotels and Resorts, Joost Heymeijer, said.

“Wollemi Grove is a significant part of our conservation efforts in bringing Australia’s first luxury conservation resort to life.

“The Wollemi pines we are planting will live for well over 500 years and will create a legacy that lasts well beyond our lifetime.

“When we launched the regeneration program last November we committed ourselves to creating a high-value conservation site.

“Since then our conservation team and hundreds of local and international volunteers have worked tirelessly rehabilitating the site.

“At the weekend we celebrated those efforts and National Tree Day by planting 1000 more trees and naming ‘Wollemi Grove’ which we anticipate will become an icon for the region,” Mr Heymeijer said.