The Strange family has a long history in Ballarat, and the 157-year-old oak tree on the land that used to be Dolton’s Flat has stood the test of time. 

Pam Strange, who lives around the corner at Canadian, said the tree was part of her family’s history. 

“They planted the tree near the cottage they built on the land,” she said. “That’s all gone, but the tree is still here.” 

The tree looked under threat when a developer took control of the land this year, but Ms Strange said he had promised to keep it. 

In any case, she is working at getting the enormous oak put on the City of Ballarat’s register of important trees. 

Ms Strange said her great-grandfather had had an interesting experience during the Eureka Rebellion, which happened before he settled down in the cottage.

“He and his mates went down to Geelong during the rebellion, and when they came back they found Frederick Vern lying on one of the beds in their tent,” she said. 

Mr Vern was at the time wanted for treason by the government, with a 500 pound reward going for his arrest. 

“They let him stay there for a few months, over January and February.

“After a while he was getting pretty fed up of hiding in the tent all time, so (Vern) borrowed some clothes from a lady friend and would go down to Main Street in disguise.” 

The Strange family reunion will see 25 people get together this weekend with a dinner at the The Granary, where Edmund’s ninth child, Frederick, opened a grocery store.

alex.hamer@fairfaxmedia.com.au