A photograph capturing the McNeilly family's Bhutan Cypress driveway at the intersection of McNeilly and Albert roads in Drouin.

This significant avenue of trees, consisting of about 160 Bhutan Cypress (Cupressus torulosa) planted in an "L" shape, still stand today.
The trees were planted along the driveway to the McNeilly family homestead "Lyndhurst" in the 1950s by John McNeilly's grandsons.
Carnegie nurserymen C. E. Isaac and Sons supplied the young trees. In the 1950s, they would deliver to Drouin twice a week.
The old homestead "Lyndhurst" was sadly removed in 2002. However, this spectacular avenue of trees was preserved as a significant visual landmark in Drouin. It serves as a reminder of the McNeilly family who were Drouin's first settlers after selecting 320 acres in 1870.
Bhutan Cypress or Himalayan Cypress is an evergreen conifer, rounded at the base with a pointed crown. Trees can reach up to 30 metres height in southern Victoria. However, in this location, they are about 18 metres high, meeting in the middle and forming a wonderful wind and sound break.
The National Trust has listed the avenue of trees as having state significance. The citation states: "this outstanding stand of 164 trees is located opposite the intersection of McNeilly and Albert roads (Drouin). It is growing along a private laneway and its length, regularity and uniform size makes it one of the more impressive plantings in Victoria".
Today the avenue can be walked through and explored as part of walk number 11 in the self-guided Drouin Tree Walks.
Information and photograph courtesy of Stories of Drouin, a cooperative oral history project between The Committee for Drouin, Drouin History Group and 3BBR FM to preserve local stories.
Visit storiesofdrouin.com.au to hear more about the avenue of trees in story "If Only the Trees Could Talk" or bawbawbiodiversity.com/drouin-tree-walks/ for information on Drouin Tree Walks.