A PIECE of Wellington Point history came crashing to the ground today when chainsaws sliced through the trunk of a century-old Cook Island pine in Beachcrest Road.
Tree loppers used a cherry picker to firstly denude the branches before felling the 45m piece of wood.
The family had been campaigning to cut down the tree in their backyard in a two-year battle with council.
The tree, which can be seen towering above the suburb, was protected under a Vegetation Protection Order taken out in 2008 by an unknown third party and could not be felled.
But the Ritchies were granted their wish this month, when council finally gave them the green light to chop the tree.
Mrs Ritchie said she was looking forward to using her backyard and dismissed claims the house was now for sale.
She said a lightning strike left a massive cavity in the tree’s trunk, about 10m above the ground, and an arborist report found it infected with white rot and dangerous.
Council voted nine-two to cut down the damaged tree and immediately start working finding a suitable home for an absent osprey and its family.
Wellington Point councillor Wendy Boglary said it was sad.
"I shed tears today in losing this century old Wellington Point landmark and now turn my attention to an Osprey roosting project to ensure they have somewhere to return to," she said.
"This all happened so quickly and we weren't even told the tree was going today.
"This is a piece of history that can never be replaced."
