Djab Wurrung tree: Anger over sacred Aboriginal tree bulldozed for highway

The bulldozing of a sacred tree for Aboriginal people to clear land for a highway has sparked anger in Australia.

Protesters have long camped at the site in Victoria to defend culturally significant trees, including some where local Djab Wurrung women have traditionally gone to give birth.

But state authorities cut down the Djab Wurrung "directions tree" on Monday, the activists said.

Officials defended the felling, saying the tree was not on a protection list.

In a deal last year, Aboriginal landowners negotiated with the Victorian government to save around a dozen of 250 "culturally significant" trees from destruction.

However, activists independent of the Aboriginal land group have remained at the site near Buangor to try to save more trees.