Leon, I forgot to say I enjoyed your article too.
It is a Coastal Banksia (Banksia integrifolia). It is quite common on the island and grows to a good size in the bush. Some here are about 70' but, in wind blown areas of the islands, they are prostrate!
The trees are in blossom at the moment and the lorikeets and honeyeaters go wild over the inflorescences. They are important food source for birds and bees because of the autumnal flowering, when little else is flowering.
