The Sherwood Arboretum covers an area of 15 hectares, containing approximately 1,100 trees from about 300 species.
The arboretum comprises parkland, artificial freshwater wetland and has an extensive frontage to the Brisbane River.

In keeping with an international trend toward the application of scientific methods to forestry, and over concern for the depleting stock of Queensland's forests and commercial timbers, Sherwood Arboretum was established at the urging of a number of community interest groups, the Local Government Authorities and the Queensland Government.

In June 1922, the Curator of the Botanical Gardens, Ernest Walter Bick F.L.S. wrote to the Brisbane Deputy Town Clerk outlining the need to establish "...an Arboretum near the city where the growth of native and other trees could be studied."
The Government Botanist, Cyril Tenison White, raised public awareness, when he wrote to the daily papers on 13 July 1922.
The proposal was sponsored by the Empire Forest Association, and gathered the support of the Royal Society of Queensland, the Queensland Naturalists' Club, the Horticultural Society, the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, the Public Health Association, and through a number of articles in the A & B Journal of Queensland.

No suitable land was initially identified within Brisbane Shire.
In 1925, the Greater Brisbane Scheme saw the amalgamation of local councils and shires to establish the City of Brisbane.
Land previously purchased by Sherwood Shire Council was considered suitable, and a proposal to dedicate land for arboretum purposes was strongly supported by the outgoing Sherwood Shire Council.

Symbolically, Sherwood Arboretum was officially opened on World Forestry Day, 21 March 1925, with a planting of 72 Queensland kauri (Agathis robusta) along a central promenade named Sir Matthew Nathan Avenue in honour of the Queensland Governor.
It was initially known as Sherwood Forest Park.

Many of the people associated with the opening and the first plantings are well known today as founders of the State and Brisbane City, prominent local residents and landowners, and leading scientists of the day such as: Sir Matthew Nathan; William Jolly, the First Mayor of Greater Brisbane; Archbishop James Duhig, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane; Romeo Lahey, local timber mill owner and founder of the National Parks Association, W. D. Francis of the Queensland Herbarium and author of "Australian Rainforest Trees"; and Edward Swain, then District Inspector of Forests who became Director of Forests in 1928.

From its outset, the Sherwood Arboretum was focused on growing Australian trees, and especially Queensland trees.
Over 600 specimens had been planted by 1929 with plans for another 400 in place.
The temperature, climate and soils did not favour these early endeavours, and many of the plantings from the 1920s and 1930s appear to have failed.

Significant tree plantings include pine, fig and native plum, such as: Queensland kauri (Agathis robusta); bull kauri (Agathis microstachya); bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii); hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii); Bribie Island pine (Callitrus columellaris); Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla); Queensland weeping fig (Ficus microcarpa); cluster fig (Ficus racemosa); rusty fig (Ficus rubiginosa); and Queensland rarities like Burdekin plum, (Pleogynium timorense) and Davidson plum (Davidsonia pruriens).
From the west, the more arid interior and tropical north are wilga (Geijera parviflora); broad-leafed bottle tree (Brachychiton australis); lacebark (Brachychiton discolor); tulip oak (Harpuilia pendula); with the Leichardt tree (Nauclea orientalis); celery wood (Polyscias elegans); yellow wood (Flindseria xanthoxyla).
Mangroves occur along the river frontage: milky mangrove (Excoecaria agaloeha), grey mangrove (Auicennia marina) and river mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum).
Examples of exotic species are uncommon, but include a Syrian Ash (Fraxinus syriaca) from Asia Minor.

In 1946, a number of land parcels and some connecting unformed roads were acquired adjacent
The Sherwood Arboretum covers an area of 15 hectares, containing approximately 1,100 trees from about 300 species. The arboretum comprises parkland, artificial freshwater wetland and has an extensive frontage to the Brisbane River.
In keeping with an international trend toward the application of scientific methods to forestry, and over concern for the depleting stock of Queensland's forests and commercial timbers, Sherwood Arboretum was established at the urging of a number of community interest groups, the Local Government Authorities and the Queensland Government.
In June 1922, the Curator of the Botanical Gardens, Ernest Walter Bick F.L.S. wrote to the Brisbane Deputy Town Clerk outlining the need to establish "...an Arboretum near the city where the growth of native and other trees could be studied." The Government Botanist, Cyril Tenison White, raised public awareness, when he wrote to the daily papers on 13 July 1922. The proposal was sponsored by the Empire Forest Association, and gathered the support of the Royal Society of Queensland, the Queensland Naturalists' Club, the Horticultural Society, the Australian Association for the Advancement of Science, the Public Health Association, and through a number of articles in the A & B Journal of Queensland.
No suitable land was initially identified within Brisbane Shire. In 1925, the Greater Brisbane Scheme saw the amalgamation of local councils and shires to establish the City of Brisbane. Land previously purchased by Sherwood Shire Council was considered suitable, and a proposal to dedicate land for arboretum purposes was strongly supported by the outgoing Sherwood Shire Council.
Symbolically, Sherwood Arboretum was officially opened on World Forestry Day, 21 March 1925, with a planting of 72 Queensland kauri (Agathis robusta) along a central promenade named Sir Matthew Nathan Avenue in honour of the Queensland Governor. It was initially known as Sherwood Forest Park.
Many of the people associated with the opening and the first plantings are well known today as founders of the State and Brisbane City, prominent local residents and landowners, and leading scientists of the day such as: Sir Matthew Nathan; William Jolly, the First Mayor of Greater Brisbane; Archbishop James Duhig, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane; Romeo Lahey, local timber mill owner and founder of the National Parks Association, W. D. Francis of the Queensland Herbarium and author of "Australian Rainforest Trees"; and Edward Swain, then District Inspector of Forests who became Director of Forests in 1928.
From its outset, the Sherwood Arboretum was focused on growing Australian trees, and especially Queensland trees. Over 600 specimens had been planted by 1929 with plans for another 400 in place. The temperature, climate and soils did not favour these early endeavours, and many of the plantings from the 1920s and 1930s appear to have failed.
Significant tree plantings include pine, fig and native plum, such as: Queensland kauri (Agathis robusta); bull kauri (Agathis microstachya); bunya pine (Araucaria bidwillii); hoop pine (Araucaria cunninghamii); Bribie Island pine (Callitrus columellaris); Moreton Bay fig (Ficus macrophylla); Queensland weeping fig (Ficus microcarpa); cluster fig (Ficus racemosa); rusty fig (Ficus rubiginosa); and Queensland rarities like Burdekin plum, (Pleogynium timorense) and Davidson plum (Davidsonia pruriens). From the west, the more arid interior and tropical north are wilga (Geijera parviflora); broad-leafed bottle tree (Brachychiton australis); lacebark (Brachychiton discolor); tulip oak (Harpuilia pendula); with the Leichardt tree (Nauclea orientalis); celery wood (Polyscias elegans); yellow wood (Flindseria xanthoxyla). Mangroves occur along the river frontage: milky mangrove (Excoecaria agaloeha), grey mangrove (Auicennia marina) and river mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum). Examples of exotic species are uncommon, but include a Syrian Ash (Fraxinus syriaca) from Asia Minor.
In 1946, a number of land parcels and some connecting unformed roads were acquired adjacent
Sherwood Arboretum