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Designed by Victorian artist Michael Moerkerk, ‘The Money Tree’ sculpture is a tangible symbol of the value of nature, created as part of Greening Australia’s 40th anniversary celebrations in 2022 and jointly commissioned by Greening Australia and Bank Australia.

People say money doesn’t grow on trees, but the UN found that for every dollar spent on environmental restoration, at least nine dollars of economic benefits can be expected.

The tree responds to the perceived tension between environmental action and economic progress, bringing together natural and reclaimed industrial materials to symbolise the connection between a healthy environment and a sustainable economy.

Artist Statement

"As someone who values nature and has seen first-hand the devastating effects of climate change, living among drought and bushfire-affected communities, I am incredibly honoured to have helped Greening Australia and Bank Australia bring The Money Tree to life. By blending the stump of a reclaimed red gum and harmoniously intertwining it with recycled coins, the tree represents the connection between the environment and the economy. I hope it will inspire others to recognise the value of investing in restoring and protecting nature.”

Michael Moerkerk

The creation of The Money Tree

The 300 kg sculpture stands 3 metres tall and uses reclaimed materials including steel, bushfire-rescued timber, repurposed keys, and approximately 70 kg of old Australian pennies and half pennies.

There are 40 branches, representing each year of Greening Australia’s science-based, practical work to restore landscapes and protect biodiversity in ways that benefit communities, economies and nature.

Among the branches, you can spot some iconic animals that Greening Australia’s projects support: a Greater Glider and a Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

Artist Michael Moerkerk welding two recycled coins together in his workshop. Michael is wearing a flannel shirt and black safety goggles, surrounded by various tools placed on metal racks across wooden walls. Image by Christopher Chan.
Two hands with yellow and brown gloves twisting copper Money Tree branches together. Image by Christopher Chan.
Artist Michael Moerkerk stands next to a piece of salvaged wood being used for the Money Tree base; out on the dry grasses of the Grampians with a yellow and pink sunrise in the background.Image by Christopher Chan.
A small, cute possum peaks its head out from the Money Tree. Bronze and made from recycled coins and keys. Image by Christopher Chan.
Michael Moerkerk climbs a silver ladder next to the bronze Money Tree, wearing a black, wide-brimmed hat and blue button-up shirt. He stands in the foreground of the blue skies and dry grasses of the Grampians. Image by Christopher Chan.
A bronze cockatoo made from recycled coins and keys sits perched on a Money Tree branch. Image by Christopher Chan.
Artist Michael Moerkek in a black, wide-brimmed hat and blue button-up shirt stands with his hand against the tall, bronze Money Tree. Image by Christopher Chan.

Valuing Nature: Climate Action and the Economy

The Money Tree was launched with a two-week installation at the State Library of Victoria in April 2022. To coincide with its appearance, Greening Australia produced a White Paper titled Valuing Nature: Climate Action and the Economy with nine leading national and global experts. It highlights data demonstrating the value of nature and the cost of inaction, and discusses ways forward.

Read the White Paper

Bank Australia

“For so long, the discussion has been around the cost of sustainability and the cost of climate action, when really what we need to be focusing on is the cost of inaction. The Money Tree is symbolic of the transition we need to make to see environmental action as an opportunity, instead of a liability.”

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Greening Australia

“Greening Australia was born in 1982 out of a need for change, and that need has only become more urgent. With the Money Tree we aimed to show that rebuilding nature together is the key to benefitting not just the environment, but our economies and communities as well.”

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What does valuing nature mean to you?

How do you value nature in your everyday life? How do you think Australia and the global community can better value nature?

Take a photo with the Money Tree or share a snap of your favourite nature spot, and tag @greeningaustralia @bankaust @wama_foundation with #IValueNature to keep the conversation going.

You can also decorate your own Money Tree by downloading this activity sheet. Don’t forget to share it with us!

A man in the distance carrying a white nest box for the Greater Glider, walking down a white, dusty forest path amongst tall, lush green trees with grey-brown trunks.
Green grasses surround a brown and orange running Landers Creek.
Two small children ride scooters at the park. The child on the left is female, wearing a pink helmet and eggshell coloured overalls on a black, two-wheeled scooter. The child on the right is younger, male and wearing a blue and orange scooter with a navy blue shirt, grey pants and a black scooter with orange handles and green wheels.
A red Crimson rosella with blue wings and a white beak sits perched on a tree branch surrounded by light-green leaves and the light blue sky. Image by Birdlife Hamilton - Crimson Rosella.

Where The Money Tree now stands

Greening Australia gifted The Money Tree to WAMA Foundation in 2026, and there’s a great story about where it now stands.

Back in 2020, with support from the Wimmera Catchment Management Authority, Jallukar Landcare Group and Greening Australia successfully sowed the native grasslands site adjacent to the endemic native botanic garden at WAMA.

This achievement was the result of four years of community-led seed collection workshops, along with the establishment of a nursery-based seed production area in Pomonal to generate the quantity of seed needed for the project.

Passionate community members, environmental organisations and volunteers came together with a shared goal: to showcase the importance of this region’s critically endangered native grasslands and foster a deeper appreciation of these unique ecosystems among a wider audience.

The restored native grasslands are within view of where The Money Tree now stands.

A close up of the bronze cockatoo made from recycled keys and coins sitting on the Money Tree's branch surrounded by a gorgeous pink sunrise.Image by Christopher Chan.

Decorate your own Money Tree

 Green leaves of the Greening Australia and Bank Australia Money Tree. They are glossy with a pale green colour.

Read the White Paper

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