Source: Manuscript Collection State Library of Victoria
I shall never forget my first sight of Paper Barks. It was at Swansea on our way to Queensland. "What are those gums?" my passenger asked. I jumped out of the car for a closer look at those gleaming silvery trunks, these enchanting trees were being cut down! And I noticed a ... chunk with the papery layers of bark "They are Paper Barks" I said, hardly believing my eyes. Never had we seen more picturesque trees. However we hurried on fearing that we might get into an argument with those who were felling them.