But just how did these trees come to be such a feature of the Forbes landscape?

Rob Willis dug into the depths of the National Library's online archive Trove, and found some clues back in the 1920s.

A "town beautifier" came to Forbes in 1927 and his visit was reported by the Forbes Advocate that July.

"Mr (Thomas) Kerr comes to Forbes from the Botanic Gardens, Sydney, with a more than ordinary reputation as a botanist and beautification expert," the Advocate reported.

The Advocate accompanied Mr Kerr on a walking tour of the town, discussing many topics from the fence around Victoria Park to the imposing of rates to fund improvement works.

"Mr Kerr enthused over the possibilities of garden plots in Court Street," The Advocate reported.

"There is a wonderful opportunity there," he said. "With the park beside it, and forming a background for any effort it will become a veritable beauty spot.

"I would like to see Phoenix palms growing there. You know what a magnificent show they make in Macquarie Street, Sydney. It is not difficult to visualise their inclusion in your Court Street efforts."

READ ALSO: Tall order for Camp Street Bridge works

The potential of the lagoon also captured Mr Kerr's imagination.

"I would plant willows here by the hundreds, or even by the thousand," he said. "They would make a show in a very short time as they grow like weeds where there is ample water."

He suggested about five acres, both sides of the lagoon, "be covered with willows".

"Trees, trees and more trees is what you want here," Mr Kerr is quoted as saying.

"Somebody in the past has had a penchant for peppers, but I don't like them. Both peppers and camphor laurels take all the substance out of the soil."

When the issue of bank erosion was raised, it's reported Mr Kerr recommended the planting of willows.

"Don't talk in nineties or hundreds, but in thousands," he told the Advocate.

"They will grow, and you will have a beauty spot which will attract thousands on summer evenings.

"People crossing the bridge will see what you have to offer, and carry the glad tidings far and wide."

Mr Kerr was to make a full report to the Forbes Shire Council on his recommendations, and snippets from the papers in the following years report the adoption of his ideas for Court Street - eight garden beds to be built and each containing a Canary Island Palm.

Tenders for the work of erecting the concrete kerbing for the garden beds were called in 1928, and preparatory work was coming along in 1929.

"Town beautification only becomes possible when you have inculcated in the minds of the populace a sound civic spirit," Mr Kerr said.

"If the townspeople as a whole are not behind the movement, it is useless to attempt anything.

"You must make them proud of the town, and must team them to take pride in the works for its improvement, and only by doing this can you hope to succeed."