In the early days, trees were often used as lookouts.
The cabins were often equipped with telephones, fire finder tables, seats and guy wires.
A tent or shelter at the bottom of the tree provided accommodation.
Many fire lookout trees fell into disuse and disappeared.
Surviving ones have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In Australia, many karri trees were adapted as lookout trees in the 1930s and 1940s.
At least three of them can still be climbed.
One is still used as a fire lookout.
TheDave Evans Bicentennial Treeis located in in the Warren National Park, in Pemberton.
At 75 meters, it is the tallest lookout tower in the world.
Its fairly recent though, being outfitted in 1988 as part of Australias bicentennial celebrations.
TheDiamond Treeis 51 meters tall and has a wooden viewing platform at the top.
Photo credit:Huy Thai/Flickr
Photo credit:Amanda Slater/Flickr
Sources:Pemberton Visitor Centre/www.firelookoutsdownunder.com/Sydney Morning Herald
