Port Jackson, noun phrase

Origin:
The name of the harbour of Sydney, Australia.
In full Port Jackson willow, formerly also Port Jacksons willow: either of two species of acacia tree, Acacia cyanophylla or A. longifolia of the Leguminosae, introduced from Australia in 1847. Also attributive.
1857 ‘J.S.H.’ in Cape Monthly Mag. I. May 267That which, eight years ago, was a mass of drifting sand, is now covered with pyp grass and a luxuriant growth of Port Jackson willow.
1891 T.R. Beattie Ride through Transkei 35Port Jacksons willows are planted here and there near the house, and when the light strikes on them they add a tint of loveliness to the scene.
1902 Trans. of S. Afr. Phil. Soc. XI. 61The value of Port Jackson bark on trees still standing..is worth 6s. per acre.
1911 Farmer’s Weekly 4 Oct. 139Planting the Port Jackson willow on the higher ground..has had the effect of preventing any further sand drifting.
1950 Cape Times 12 Dec. 9Great masses of rooikrantz and Port Jackson willow grow to within a few feet of the houses.
1955 H.B. Rycroft in Jrnl of Botanical Soc. of S. Afr. XLI. 15We hope to propagate the species of that area..which today have been almost completely ousted by the spread of exotic weeds such as the Australian wattles, Port Jackson and Rooikrans.
1959 Cape Times 27 Mar. 1A man was shot dead at Durbanville last night after a 400-yard police chase at dusk through thick Port Jackson bush.
1965 J. Bennett Hawk Alone 118He came back to Port Elizabeth, to the sea chopped by the south easter, even the interminable Port Jackson willows green after the Free State.
1966 C.A. Smith Common Names 376Port Jackson Acacia,..Introduced from Australia as a useful sand binder on the Cape Flats and from there it spread. It proved an aggressive antagonist of the native flora when it spread further afield.
1972 Palmer & Pitman Trees of Sn Afr. II. 731Some Australian species, such as the aggressive and fast-spreading Port Jackson willow, Acacia cyanophylla Lindl., are cultivated in South Africa.
1974 A.P. Brink Looking on Darkness 323There were no trees apart from a thin lane of Port Jacksons serving as a wind-break.
1979 E. Prov. Herald 14 Nov. 3The ubiquitous Port Jackson willow which is hated by many.
1980 E. Joubert Long Journey of Poppie Nongena 119He cut Port Jackson branches and made palings to enclose the yard.
1986 J. De Wette in Upstream Summer 4The mismatched trees of childhood..the revenant silverleaf and pollen-caked Port Jackson.
1986 E. Prov. Herald 25 June 23Have you noticed that the Australian wattles, which we call collectively Port Jackson Willow, seem to be disappearing from Port Elizabeth?
1987 Fair Lady 13 May 85Beaches: It’s a way of life. Some people spend entire days parked under the Port Jackson in the station wagon, drinking cane and listening to Bobby Angel.
1988 M. Branch Explore Cape Flora 42Port Jackson wattles have straggly stems, yellow pompom flowers and black seed. Nothing grows beneath them.
In full Port Jackson willow, formerly also Port Jacksons willow:either of two species of acacia tree, Acacia cyanophylla or A. longifolia of the Leguminosae, introduced from Australia in 1847. Also attributive.
Entry Navigation

Visualise Quotations

Quotation summary

Senses

18571988

Browse Related Words

By Category

Trees

By Usage

elliptical
Porra, nounn.post-apartheid, adjectiveadj. & nounn.
Copyright © 2025 Dictionary Unit for South African English