The park is famous for the glorious Small-leafed Fig which is loved by locals and visitors alike.

People just can't help but stop and gaze at its magnificence or get out their cameras and take a photo or 20.

It's often a place for families and newlyweds to stand under for photos.

The Milton Ulladulla Historical Society has researched the tree and we thank them and acknowledge their efforts.

Believed to be over 190 years old, the fig tree is approximately 10 metres tall and has a massive spread of 38 metres.

The tree is in very good health and is listed on the National Register of Big Trees.

It is a favourite play area for children with many climbable branches to ground level and hide-and-seek spots around its huge, buttressed trunk.

Mick Ryan Park was created by Shoalhaven Council in 1968 for the purpose of saving the fig in case there was a redevelopment of the land.

The 2000m parcel of land was bought from dairy farmer Mick Ryan, and the park was named in his honour.

The date of the fig's planting is not known but, according to the information given by Archie Blanch (Mick Ryan's brother-in-law) at the time of the land purchase in 1968 to Shoalhaven City Council's Southern District Engineer R. Larking (pers comms, 1986), from 1828-1830 it was common for horsemen to ride from Nerriga to Milton via Porters Creek and Egans Gap.

One of those riders is said to have planted the fig.

At the time, the land was owned by Whatman, then sold to Bartlett, then McDonald and, lastly, Ryan.

Nearby is the Avenue of Honour featuring Camphor laurels (Cinnamomum camphora) trees

Planted as part of a much longer avenue to commemorate men and women from Milton-Ulladulla who served during World War 1, only three trees now remain along the Princes Highway (west side, north end of Milton, outside Mick Ryan Park).

Information courtesy of the Milton Ulladulla Historical Society