Australian Timber Species

Blackbutt (Coastal)

Eucalyptus Pilularis

Applications: Staircase, joinery, flooring, decking and benchtops.

Reasonable volume og PEFC certified [mainly F27], virtually all harvested under the guidance of AS4708.

Coastal Blackbutt is a popular species growing in the coastal areas from South-East Queensland to southern New South Wales. A long-standing timber in the bridge and house construction industries it is now highly sought after in the flooring, decking and joinery markets.

A higher density hardwood at approximately 900kg/m3, Blackbutt is a reasonably uniform light brown in colour, easy to work and durable. It has a BAL rating of 29.

Availability

Kiln dry flooring and decking are always in demand. Kiln dry boards for joinery and staircase work are generally available in 150/200×25 150-300×38 150-300×50 though there may be delays in availability of the wider boards. Also available as a green off saw construction hardwood.

Sydney Blue Gum

Eucalyptus Saligna

Applications: Joinery, flooring, construction, furniture, and benchtops.

Sydney Blue Gum grows widely along coastal New South Wales and South-East Queensland. Initially this species found application as flooring and green-off-saw house construction timber. Now it, and several other heavy hardwood species, enjoy a value-added market being used in sliced veneer, rotary veneer for ply, staircase, and joinery.

Sydney Blue Gum varies in colour from a medium pink to red. It weighs approximately 850kg/me when air dry and is relatively easy to work with. It may be used in different applications in areas requiring a timber of BAL rating 12.5 and 19. Refer to AS3959 Table E1, BAL Construction Requirements.

Availability

Kiln dry material is readily available in sizes 100mm-200mm×25mm, 100mm-300mm×38mm and 100mm-300mm×50mm.

Forest Red Gum (Queensland Blue Gum)

Eucalyptus tereticornis

Applications: Staircase, joinery, flooring, decking, and benchtops.

This species grows extensively along Australia’s eastern seaboard. Previous uses were confined to unseasoned construction applications and seasoned flooring / decking. Nowadays, as a properly kiln dried product, it is used in staircase construction, window and door joinery, benchtops and custom made furniture.

Medium to dark red in colour with an air-dry density of approximately 1050kg/m3 Forest Red Gum machines reasonably well though may cause problems at times with cranky grain. It may be used in different applications in areas requiring a timber of BAL rating 12.5 and 19. Refer to AS3959 Table E1, BAL Construction Requirements.

Availability

More readily available as decking and flooring with a limited availability as rough sawn board in 25mm 38mm and 50mm thicknesses.

Hoop Pine

Araucaria cunninghamii

Applications: Construction, flooring, joinery, shelving and cupboards, furniture, and plywood.

Hoop Pine is probably one of Australia’s most versatile timbers. Growing along the Queensland coastal ranges and in Northern New South Wales, virgin Hoop was sought and sawn from early sawmilling days. Today only plantation timber is available from a limited number of mills in South-East Queensland and the Atherton Tableland.

Hoop Pine is a medium density softwood having and air-dry density of approximately 530kg/m3. It is pale yellow to white in colour, very easy to work with a wide range of applications from engineered structural product, ply, mouldings, flooring, furniture, joinery [LOSP treated] and shopfitting.

Availability

The majority of Hoop Pine is presently sustaining the construction industry leaving limited available for boards for use in other applications. Currently, there is limited availability in 25mm 38mm and 50mm thicknesses. Although we are hopeful that this will improve. Grades available are clear, clear one face and lower knotty grades.

Ironbark (Red and Grey)

Eucalyptus Sideroxylon (Red Ironbark or narrow-leaved Ironbark) Eucalyptus Paniculata (Grey)

Applications: Staircase, joinery, flooring, decking, benchtops, and culinary applications.

Ironbark is another species which in recent years has seen a move to value added applications with the improvement to kiln dry techniques and willingness to invest in seasoning stock for longer periods of time.

Ironbark is favoured in applications where durability is paramount. From early applications in unseasoned construction timbers and air seasoned decking, kiln dried Ironbark is now widely in demand for use in flooring and staircase manufacture as well as window and door joinery. Further, given its high resistant to fire rating, Ironbark is in heavy demand as a decking product.  

Grey Ironbark, because of its colouring, enjoys popularity as a flooring species. Staircase manufacture has followed in the steps of the flooring demand. Colour is occasionally a point of discussion as there is often red coloured timber in Grey Ironbark.

Recently, Ironbark has gained popularity in culinary application such as smoking and cooking over open fire due it is ability to burn at a stable intense heat for extended periods.

With an air-dry density of approximately 1135kg/m3, Ironbark is heavy to handle however, it works reasonably well in joinery applications. Red Ironbark has a BAL rating of 29, whereas Grey Ironbark has a BAL rating of 19.

Availability

There is a steady supply of Ironbark on to the market, though at times there is a waiting period. In sawn boards Ironbark is generally available in 100-200×25, 100-300×38 and 50mm.

Jarrah

Eucalyptus Mareinata

Applications: Construction, furniture, joinery, flooring, staircase, and decking.

Used initially, and still to a limited degree, in applications such as house frames, bridging timber, street paving and mine props, today Jarrah enjoys a reputation as a fine timber in furniture, flooring, decking and joinery and bench tops.

Jarrah grows only in the Southwestern corner of Western Australia. It varies in colour from light pink to a reddish brown.

Air-dry density is approximately 820kg/m3.

Availability

Sawn sizes most readily available are 100mm-200mm wide boards in 25mm, 38mm and 50mm thicknesses. It is available in Standard and Better grade only.  

Kauri Pine

Agathis robusta

Applications: Furniture, joinery, and musical instruments.

This softwood is native to Australia but also naturally occurs in the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Kauri Pine varies in colour from pale-yellow brown to pinkish brown. On the quarter cut face it has a shimmering ray fleck which makes it distinguishable from other pine species. When finished it has a warm golden appearance. This species is approximately 300-450kg/m3 when dry and as such is very easy to work. Despite this its durability and colour make it ideal for use in interior applications. It is also favoured by luthiers due to its good resonating properties created by its regular grain.

Availability

Limited availability in 25mm, 38mm and 50mm thicknesses. Boards are sawn 100mm and wider.

Northern Silky Oak

Cardwellia Sublimis

Applications: Furniture, shopfitting and joinery.

Often included in the generic Silky Oak this species is not to be confused with Southern Silky Oak (Grevillia Robusta). This is a traditional and well-regarded species from North Queensland. Northern Silky Oak has been used historically in the furniture, shopfitting and joinery industries. Used to a far less degree nowadays, it still enjoys a place in traditional furniture, particular church furniture and shopfitting. Of particular interest is quarter sawn timber displaying a very pronounced figurative medullary ray, favoured for exposed feature work such as tabletops, cupboard doors and coffin sides.

Northern Silky Oak is light brown colour with an air-dry density of approximately 560kg/m3. It is reasonably easy to work except the quarter sawn may give some chip-out problems.

Availability

As is the case with most North Queensland species currently, there is limited availability. As supply improves, we will see availability in 25mm 38mm and 50mm thicknesses and, to lesser extent, 75mm and 100mm thickness.

Queensland Maple

Flindersia Brayleyana

Applications: Cabinetry, furniture, gunstocks, musical instruments, panelling, veneers, panels and turned objects.

Queensland Maple, a traditional fine cabinet species from the forests of North Queensland. It is a hardwood revered for its attractive wavy or curly grain. As such it is an ideal choice in decorative applications such as furniture and musical instruments. The species is also available in sliced veneer and sawn timber for furniture, shopfitting, carving and turning.

Heartwood ranges in colour from pink to mid brown with the sapwood being distinctly paler. It glues and nails well and is generally easy to work.

Medium density at air dry 575kg/m3, lustrous pink and easy to work.

Availability

Generally available in 25mm 38mm and 50mm thicknesses. To lesser extent in 75mm and 100mm thickness.

Queensland Silver Ash

Flindersia Bourjotiana

Applications: Shopfitting, cabinetry, boatbuilding and flooring.

Queensland Silver Ash, a proud primary timber from the forests of north Queensland. Unfortunately, Silver Ash, along with most other species from far north Queensland, is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain. Having found wide application in shopfitting, cabinetry, boatbuilding and flooring, a lack of continuity of supply is contributing to limited availability of this popular timber.

Queensland Silver Ash is white in colour (as opposed to Southern Silver Ash which is yellow), bends well after steaming, is easy to work and weighs approximately 680kg/m3 air-dry.

Availability

Very limited availability in 25mm 38mm and 50mm thicknesses.

Rose Gum (Flooded Gum)

Eucalyptus gradis

Applications: Flooring, decking, cladding, joinery, cabinetry, furniture, and boatbuilding.

Rose Gum is a versatile species being used in construction and decorative applications. Used in general house framing, cladding, flooring and mouldings but is an ideal choice in lining, joinery and fascia and barge boards.

Rose Gum is a warm coloured hardwood with pink and peach tones. Heartwood can range in colour from pale pink to red-brown. Rose gum may contain evidence of insect trails and pinholes that add to its character and beauty. The grain is even, straight and uniform creating no distinctive figure.

Rose Gum is fairly easy to work with both hand and machine tools. Dry it weighs approximately 620kg/m3. It has a BAL rating of 19.

Availability

Kiln dry material is readily available in sizes 100mm-200mm×25mm, 100mm-300mm×38mm and 100mm-300mm×50mm.

Spotted Gum

Eucalyptus maculata or Corymbia maculata

Application: Staircase, joinery, flooring, decking, benchtops.

Reasonable volume for PEFC certified [mainly F27], virtually all harvested under the guidance of AS4708. Occasionally, extremely small volume available under FSC.

Due to its stability Spotted Gum enjoys a preference over construction timbers of higher shrinkage, particularly in the drier areas of Queensland. Spotted Gum bends reasonably well when steamed. Historically it was frequently used as planking in the construction of timber boats i.e. above the waterline in timber trawlers. Today the species enjoys a very strong demand because of its durability, fire rating and resurgence of the flooring and decking markets.

Colour varies from the light greenish brown of the New South Wales grown timber to the almost chocolate brown of timber grown in central areas of Queensland

Reasonably heavy at an air-dry density of approximately 950kg/m3, it is not a difficult timber to work though some problems may be experienced in gluing. It has a BAL rating of 29.

Availability

Kiln dry flooring and decking are always in demand. Kiln dry boards for joinery and staircase work are generally available in 150/200×25 150-300×38 150-300×50 though there may be delays in availability of the wider boards.

Tasmanian Blackwood

Acacia Melanoxylon

Application: Furniture, cabinetry, musical instruments, gunstocks, flooring, woodturning, veneers, panelling and joinery.

A native of Tasmania and Victoria this species presents in a range of colours. The heartwood varies from golden honey through to deep brown at times with a reddish tint. Occasionally black streaks are present. Sapwood is paler. The grain is usually straight but sometimes wavy, producing a fiddleback figure making it an ideal choice for decorative and appearance timber applications.

Blackwood turns and machines well and nails and glues easily. Dry it weights approximately 640kg/m3.

Availability

Readily available in 75mm-200mm widths and in 25mm, 38mm and 50mm thicknesses.

Tasmanian Oak/Victorian Ash

Eucalyptus delegatensis, Eucalyptus regnans

Applications: Internal applications of joinery, flooring, staircases, handrails, panelling, mouldings and furniture.

Tasmanian Oak and Victorian Ash are two nearly identical Eucalypt species. While there are some minor differences between the two hardwoods, their remarkable similarities allow them to often be used interchangeably. However, there is considerable colour variation throughout. This mix of hardwood species ranges from straw blonde to pale and dark pink through to chocolate blonde. Younger growth is generally lighter in colour.

This species combination is ideal when an application requires a strong and stable timber. Their good all-round workability also make it desirable. These species are best suited to indoor applications, furniture, and toys. Both species have an approximate weight of 700kg/m3 when dry.

Availability

Generally presented as dressed two faces and straight line edged it is readily available in 75-200mm widths in 25mm, 38mm and 50mm thicknesses. It is also readily available as laminated product particularly for step tread material.

Green Off Saw Hardwoods – Special Cuts

We work closely with several mills to be able to supply customers with green off sawn hardwood species sawn to their specifications. This includes scantling and constructions products such as stumps, posts, rails, sleepers, and girders in a mix of durability one and two hardwoods species.