Our Neck of the Woods: 9 Australian Timbers and Their Characters
Get to know your brush box from blackbutt and spotted gum from cypress pine with this simple guide
Rebecca Gross
19 July 2017
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
Australia has some of the most durable and beautiful timbers in the world, making them ideal for architecture and design. Timber provides a sense of organic warmth, softness and tactility that few other materials possess and offers positive health benefits, similar to those created by spending time in nature.
Here’s a guide to nine native Australian timbers including their colours, textures, qualities and common applications.
Here’s a guide to nine native Australian timbers including their colours, textures, qualities and common applications.
Hardwood versus softwood
Whether a timber is hardwood or softwood doesn’t refer to its strength, as one might expect, but rather its seed structure. Hardwood trees’ seeds are produced in an enclosed form with some sort of covering, such as a shell or fruit.
Softwood trees form naked seeds that are dropped to the ground. Hardwoods tend to be slower growing than softwoods and are therefore usually more dense, however, this is not always the case.
Whether a timber is hardwood or softwood doesn’t refer to its strength, as one might expect, but rather its seed structure. Hardwood trees’ seeds are produced in an enclosed form with some sort of covering, such as a shell or fruit.
Softwood trees form naked seeds that are dropped to the ground. Hardwoods tend to be slower growing than softwoods and are therefore usually more dense, however, this is not always the case.
1. Jarrah
Eucalyptus marginata
Jarrah is a slow-growing tree that hails from the iron- and aluminium-rich plains in the southwest corner of WA. It is one of the few commercial hardwood species from WA and only a limited portion of the jarrah forest may be harvested annually.
Eucalyptus marginata
Jarrah is a slow-growing tree that hails from the iron- and aluminium-rich plains in the southwest corner of WA. It is one of the few commercial hardwood species from WA and only a limited portion of the jarrah forest may be harvested annually.
Colour: Jarrah timbers reflect the hues of the WA landscape, with rich tones that range from soft salmon pink to rich reddish brown, which can deepen to a soft burgundy over time.
Texture and grain: The grain tends to be interlocked or wavy, with a medium to coarse texture.
Qualities: Jarrah is 15 percent more dense than oak and won’t burn unless exposed to a constant flame.
Find an architect near you on Houzz for advice on using timber in your next renovation
Qualities: Jarrah is 15 percent more dense than oak and won’t burn unless exposed to a constant flame.
Find an architect near you on Houzz for advice on using timber in your next renovation
Applications: Jarrah is a versatile hardwood used for engineering, construction and decorative purposes. It is a popular choice for flooring, joinery, turnery and indoor and outdoor furniture. It is also suitable for heavy construction and exterior cladding.
Jarrah is widely available as a recycled timber salvaged from old houses, bridges, warehouses and other structures, and can be machined and re-milled for a fresh, new appearance. It readily accepts paint, stain or polish.
Jarrah is widely available as a recycled timber salvaged from old houses, bridges, warehouses and other structures, and can be machined and re-milled for a fresh, new appearance. It readily accepts paint, stain or polish.
2. Spotted gum
Corymbia maculata
Spotted gum is the common name for four hardwood species that grow along Australia’s east coast from northeast Victoria to the northern tablelands of Queensland. They may also be found in western areas of southern Queensland. The descriptor ‘spotted’ refers to the soft mottled colour of the wood, which is caused by the weathering of the outer tree as it sheds elliptical strips of bark.
Corymbia maculata
Spotted gum is the common name for four hardwood species that grow along Australia’s east coast from northeast Victoria to the northern tablelands of Queensland. They may also be found in western areas of southern Queensland. The descriptor ‘spotted’ refers to the soft mottled colour of the wood, which is caused by the weathering of the outer tree as it sheds elliptical strips of bark.
Colour: Its colour can vary from pale grey-browns and soft creams to rich chocolate red-brown.
Texture and grain: It has a wavy grain that produces an attractive rippled effect.
Texture and grain: It has a wavy grain that produces an attractive rippled effect.
Qualities: Spotted gum is a tough timber, which according to expert testing can be used in bushfire-prone areas without having to be subjected to fire-retardant treatment. It has lower tannin content than other Australian hardwoods and is less prone to bleed-through of tannins, and therefore staining.
Applications: Spotted gum is suitable for a range of building applications, such as posts and poles, framing, flooring, lining, decking and cladding. It is also used for indoor and outdoor furniture, turnery, joinery and in the manufacture of veneer and plywood. It can be painted, stained or polished.
Applications: Spotted gum is suitable for a range of building applications, such as posts and poles, framing, flooring, lining, decking and cladding. It is also used for indoor and outdoor furniture, turnery, joinery and in the manufacture of veneer and plywood. It can be painted, stained or polished.
3. Blackbutt
Eucalyptus pilularis
Blackbutt is a good plantation timber due to its quick growth and versatility. The hardwood timber is commonly available in NSW and southern Queensland where it’s often used for building framework. The common name blackbutt comes from the tree’s appearance after bushfire when the buttress (or butt) is significantly darker.
Eucalyptus pilularis
Blackbutt is a good plantation timber due to its quick growth and versatility. The hardwood timber is commonly available in NSW and southern Queensland where it’s often used for building framework. The common name blackbutt comes from the tree’s appearance after bushfire when the buttress (or butt) is significantly darker.
Colour: Blackbutt ranges in colour from cream to pale brown, sometimes with a slight tinge of pink.
Texture and grain: It has an even texture and generally a straight grain.
Qualities: Blackbutt provides good fire resistance and can be used in bushfire-prone areas without having to be subjected to fire retardant treatment.
Qualities: Blackbutt provides good fire resistance and can be used in bushfire-prone areas without having to be subjected to fire retardant treatment.
Applications: Blackbutt is commonly used for structural and exterior applications including building framework, flooring, cladding, decking and lining. Inside it’s used for furniture, turnery, flooring, joinery, and here for the kitchen bench. Blackbutt is also used to produce plywood.
Blackbutt can be stained, painted or polished, however, high tannin and extractives content can result in staining of painted surfaces exposed to the weather.
Browse more kitchen photos
Blackbutt can be stained, painted or polished, however, high tannin and extractives content can result in staining of painted surfaces exposed to the weather.
Browse more kitchen photos
4. Brush box
Lophostemon confertus
Brush box is a medium- to large-sized Australian hardwood tree that grows along the edges of the NSW and Queensland rainforest areas.
Lophostemon confertus
Brush box is a medium- to large-sized Australian hardwood tree that grows along the edges of the NSW and Queensland rainforest areas.
Colour: Brush box has a beautiful rich colour that can vary from pale pinkish grey to rich reddish brown.
Texture and grain: It has a fine and even texture with an often curly interlocking grain.
Texture and grain: It has a fine and even texture with an often curly interlocking grain.
Qualities: Brush box is hardy and its high density makes it resistant to wear and splintering. Its natural waxiness occasionally causes some adhesion problems with some highly solvent floor finishes, but it is a very good base for paints and stains.
Applications: Brush box is used for a variety of applications including flooring, cladding, panelling and some structural applications such as framing and laminated beams. Inside, its interlocking grain is an attractive feature that enhances its appeal for joinery, turnery and flooring.
Applications: Brush box is used for a variety of applications including flooring, cladding, panelling and some structural applications such as framing and laminated beams. Inside, its interlocking grain is an attractive feature that enhances its appeal for joinery, turnery and flooring.
5. Grey ironbark
Eucalyptus drepanophylla
Grey ironbark is a high-quality premium hardwood that was used by Indigenous Australians to make spear throwers, while its bark was boiled for treating sores. The species is found from northern NSW to Bundaberg, Queensland, and in scattered patches further north.
Eucalyptus drepanophylla
Grey ironbark is a high-quality premium hardwood that was used by Indigenous Australians to make spear throwers, while its bark was boiled for treating sores. The species is found from northern NSW to Bundaberg, Queensland, and in scattered patches further north.
Colour: Grey ironbark ranges in colour from dark brown to reddish brown.
Texture and grain: It has a tight cathedral grain pattern featuring recurring arch shapes.
Texture and grain: It has a tight cathedral grain pattern featuring recurring arch shapes.
Qualities: Grey ironbark is a particularly hard, strong and durable timber.
Applications: The wood has a broad range of applications including cladding, flooring and decking, joinery, framework and feature posts and beams. Grey ironbark is one of the densest hardwood flooring options and is extremely durable, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
Applications: The wood has a broad range of applications including cladding, flooring and decking, joinery, framework and feature posts and beams. Grey ironbark is one of the densest hardwood flooring options and is extremely durable, making it ideal for high-traffic areas.
6. Red Ironbark
Eucalyptus tricarpa
Red ironbark is a distinctive Australian hardwood that grows from Victoria through the western slopes of NSW into southern Queensland. Its rough bark is hard and deeply furrowed, and ranges from a dark grey to black hue.
Eucalyptus tricarpa
Red ironbark is a distinctive Australian hardwood that grows from Victoria through the western slopes of NSW into southern Queensland. Its rough bark is hard and deeply furrowed, and ranges from a dark grey to black hue.
Colour: Red ironbark timber ranges from deep dark red to red-brown.
Texture and grain: It has a fine and even texture with an interlocked grain.
Texture and grain: It has a fine and even texture with an interlocked grain.
Qualities: One of the hardest timber species commercially available worldwide, red ironbark is extremely hardwearing and highly durable. It is another timber that can be used in bushfire-prone areas without having to be subjected to fire-retardant treatment.
Applications: Red ironbark is used for exterior structural uses due to its long-term performance in weather-exposed applications. However, because of the timber’s density and interlocking grain it can be difficult to work with, which limits some applications that require fine detailing. The timber is also suitable for framing, flooring, decking and cladding.
Applications: Red ironbark is used for exterior structural uses due to its long-term performance in weather-exposed applications. However, because of the timber’s density and interlocking grain it can be difficult to work with, which limits some applications that require fine detailing. The timber is also suitable for framing, flooring, decking and cladding.
7. Tasmanian oak
Eucalyptus regnans, E. delegatensis, E. obliqua
Tasmanian oak refers to three eucalypt species commonly found in Tasmania, as well as alpine regions in Victoria and NSW. These hardwood species are large trees that grow up to 90 metres in height.x
Eucalyptus regnans, E. delegatensis, E. obliqua
Tasmanian oak refers to three eucalypt species commonly found in Tasmania, as well as alpine regions in Victoria and NSW. These hardwood species are large trees that grow up to 90 metres in height.x
Colour: Tasmanian oak is light in colour, varying from straw to reddish brown with intermediate shades of cream to pink.
Texture and grain: It has an extremely straight and even grain.
Texture and grain: It has an extremely straight and even grain.
Qualities: Tasmanian oak is dense and resilient, however it is not resistant to termites.
Applications: Tasmanian oak is a preferred timber for a wide range of applications, from framing to interiors, such as flooring, joinery, laminated beams, turnery and lining. It is also a popular timber for furniture. Tasmanian oak has excellent staining qualities, which enables ready matching with other timbers, finishes or furnishings.
Applications: Tasmanian oak is a preferred timber for a wide range of applications, from framing to interiors, such as flooring, joinery, laminated beams, turnery and lining. It is also a popular timber for furniture. Tasmanian oak has excellent staining qualities, which enables ready matching with other timbers, finishes or furnishings.
8. Victorian ash
Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. regnans
Victorian ash comes from two of the same eucalypt species as Tasmanian oak and the hardwoods are often interchangeable. Victorian ash is grown as a plantation timber due to its quick growth and resistance to insect attack.
Eucalyptus delegatensis, E. regnans
Victorian ash comes from two of the same eucalypt species as Tasmanian oak and the hardwoods are often interchangeable. Victorian ash is grown as a plantation timber due to its quick growth and resistance to insect attack.
Colour: Victorian ash ranges in colour from pale pink to yellowish brown.
Texture and grain: It has a coarse texture and straight grain and may also have fiddleback markings and visible gum veins.
Texture and grain: It has a coarse texture and straight grain and may also have fiddleback markings and visible gum veins.
Qualities: Victorian ash is durable and resilient, however, it is not resistant to termites.
Applications: While Victorian ash can be used for general construction, such as framing, it is best suited for interior applications such as flooring, decking, panelling, joinery and furniture.
Applications: While Victorian ash can be used for general construction, such as framing, it is best suited for interior applications such as flooring, decking, panelling, joinery and furniture.
9. Cypress pine
Callitris
Cypress pine is a softwood found throughout Victoria, western NSW and central western Queensland.
Callitris
Cypress pine is a softwood found throughout Victoria, western NSW and central western Queensland.
Colour: Cypress pine ranges in colour from light yellow and light orange to light brown, with occasional dark brown streaks.
Texture and grain: It has a generally straight grain with a fine, even texture. Numerous tight knots are common.
Texture and grain: It has a generally straight grain with a fine, even texture. Numerous tight knots are common.
Qualities: The natural resins in cypress pine are aromatic and are believed to contribute to the timber’s natural durability.
Applications: Cypress pine is used for general building construction in areas where the species naturally occurs. It is more widely used for furniture, joinery, flooring, lining and cladding and its distinctive tight knots enhance its decorative appeal for exposed faces.
Your turn
Which of these nine timbers is your pick of the bunch? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
If you’re thinking of choosing timber for your home, it’s important to read Eco Cred: How to Buy Responsibly Sourced Timber
Applications: Cypress pine is used for general building construction in areas where the species naturally occurs. It is more widely used for furniture, joinery, flooring, lining and cladding and its distinctive tight knots enhance its decorative appeal for exposed faces.
Your turn
Which of these nine timbers is your pick of the bunch? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save your favourite images and join the conversation.
More
If you’re thinking of choosing timber for your home, it’s important to read Eco Cred: How to Buy Responsibly Sourced Timber
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What a pity you left out QLD Maple
Would love to see a complimentary article about stains and different finishes, liming, etc and their suitability w different timber types.
Wormy chestnut/ mesmate?