Despite protests from the local aboriginal community, a reportedly 200 year old ‘tree of knowledge’ has been wiped from the Nowra CBD this morning.

Shoalhaven Council workers have ignored protests from local indigenous groups and started work on the removal of the tree early this morning, 24 hours after it’s original planned removal.

The tree was guarded last night by security staff employed by council, to avoid protest action planned, including reports of residents chaining themselves to the tree.

Police and Council Rangers barricaded the area early this morning but seem to have caught protesters on the hop, with no attendance from action groups this morning.

Councillor Amanda Findlay said seeds from the tree would be captured and another tree would be planted in the future, however whether that action was done this morning is uncertain.