Native Hardwood Timbers
Although there are hundreds of hardwood species (many of which are eucalypts), not all are commercially valued. In northern NSW the important species are as follows:

Coastal Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis)
is found in coastal forests (both wet and dry sclerophyll) from the southern NSW to southeast Queensland, including large parts of Fraser Island. With a brown fibrous bark on the trunk and smooth white or yellow barked branches it grows to 70 metres in height. Whilst the best developed forests grow on fertile, well drained soils, it also grows on clays. It is a versatile species, the timber being suited to construction, flooring, panelling, veneer, furniture and poles. It is also favoured as a plantation species on appropriate sites.

Spotted Gum (Corymbia maculata) - formerly Eucalyptus maculata
is common to the coastal forests of NSW and southeast Queensland and occurs in both wet and dry sclerophyll forests. There are other varieties but C. maculata is most common. It has a white to grey smooth bark with darker patches and grows to a height of up to 50 metres, with exceptional trees growing to 70 metres. It will grow in a variety of soils. A versatile timber species suitable for heavy and light construction, flooring, panelling, boat building, poles, veneer and tool handles. The species is suited to plantation establishment on both clay and better-drained soils.

Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus grandis)
is distributed along the coast from just north of Newcastle to south east Queensland and also in northern Queensland. It is distinguished by a white, smooth trunk with a stocking of rougher bark at the base and grows to about 40-45 metres in height although on the best sites it can reach 70 metres. It prefers deep, well-drained soils on moist sites. Because of its pink heartwood it's trade name is Rose Gum. The timber is suitable for construction, panelling, cladding, flooring, joinery, furniture and veneer. The species is suited to plantations on more sheltered sites.

Sydney Blue Gum (Eucalyptus saligna)
is distributed along the coastal forests from the NSW south coast to southeast Queensland, with some scattered populations further to the north. It is also found along the eastern side of the northern tablelands. It has a bluish grey smooth bark with a stocking of brown flaky bark at the base and grows mainly in wet sclerophyll forests, where it prefers the better-drained alluvial and volcanic soils. It reaches a height of up to 55 metres, with outstanding individuals reaching more than 60 metres. The timber is used for general construction, flooring, panelling, cladding, furniture and veneer. The species is suited to plantation establishment.

Tallowwood (Eucalyptus microcorys)
occurs in the coastal forests and eastern edge of the northern tablelands from Newcastle in the south to Fraser Island in Queensland. It has orange to brown coloured, flaky bark and prefers deep well drained soils and reaches a height of 40 to 50 metres or in exceptional circumstances up to 70 metres. It is also found in dry sclerophyll forest on poorer soils, including sands and clays. The timber is valued for its density and durability and is suitable for heavy construction, poles, girders, flooring, decking, fence posts and railway sleepers. It is a good windbreak tree, although to date it has not proved very suitable for plantation establishment.

Brush Box (Lophostomon confertus)
is found along the coastal strip from the NSW mid north coast to northern Queensland, on lower slopes and valleys in deep better drained soils of wet sclerophyll forest and on the edge of rainforest. It can grow to a height of 45 metres and has rough bark on the lower trunk with a smooth grey to pinkish bark on the upper trunk and branches. The timber is very durable and is suitable for construction, bridge and wharf decking, cladding, panelling and flooring.

Ironbarks (various species).
Distinguished by hard, furrowed bark, in northern NSW there are a number of Ironbark species that are valued for their strength, density, durability and versatility, including Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus paniculata), Narrow-leaved Red Ironbark (E. crebra) and Broad-leaved Ironbark (E. fibrosa). Timber colour varies from yellow to deep red. The timber is used for heavy and light construction, bridges and wharves, sleepers, decking, poles and girders.

Narrow-leaved White Mahogany (Eucalyptus. acmenoides)
is distributed along coastal NSW from about Sydney north and up to north Queensland. With a rough, fibrous, sometimes stringy bark, it grows on a range of soils in both wet and dry sclerophyll forests and reaches a height of up to 60 metres. The timber is suited to construction, flooring, cladding, panelling, bridge and wharf construction and poles.

New England Blackbutt (Eucalyptus campanulata)
is distributed throughout the northern tablelands and higher elevations of southeast Queensland. Rough, fibrous bark persists to the smaller branches, which are smooth barked. It grows over a range of soil types, mainly of granite origin. Height varies from 45-50 metres on the best sites to less than 20 metres where it grows as woodland on poor, cold sites. The timber is moderately durable and its main use is for general construction.

White Gum / Ribbon Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis), Silvertop Stringybark (Eucalyptus laevopinea) and Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua)
are another three relatively common Northern Tablelands species that are distributed within the wet sclerophyll areas of the eastern ranges of the plateau. They all grow to heights of up to 60 metres. Their timbers are of high quality and are used for general construction, building framing, joinery, flooring, furniture, panelling and veneer.

Blue Leaved Stringybark (Eucalyptus agglomerata)
is endemic to the Northern Tablelands and the higher elevations of south east Queensland and grows in a range of soils, mainly of sedimentary origin. It will grow at the lower end of the acceptable rainfall range for plantations, however ther is little data on growth rates. The timber is used mainly for general construction, veneer and flooring.

Shining Gum (Eucalyptus nitens)
has been established as a plantation speciesin Tasmania, Victoria and overseas. There are isolated natural occurances in the Northern Tablelands. The species will tolerate a dry season for up to 4 months and much of the Tablelands would appear climatically suitable. The timber is suited to general construction, flooring, furniture and pulpwood.

Softwood Timbers
There are several commercial conifer species, both native and exotic, growing in Northern NSW:

Hoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii)
is a rainforest native but also occurs in both native hardwood forests and plantations. It can grow to 60-70 metres in height and prefers rich, well drained soils on moist sites. It grows well as a plantation species, with plantations established over many years west of Casino and further to the northwest around Kyogle, Urbenville and the Acacia Plateau. The timber is used for veneer and plywood, light construction, joinery, panelling and furniture.

Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii)
a native of Queensland, has been established in plantations on the north coast and grows over a range of topography from valley floors to ridgetops in deep well drained soils mainly of basalt origin. The timber is used for similar applications to Hoop Pine, although it is lighter and not as strong.

Cypress Pine (Callitris species)
There are several Cypress Pine species native to northern NSW, the most common being White Cypress (Callitris glaucophylla), Black Cypress (C. endlicheri) and Coastal Cypress Pine (C. columellaris). Of these only White Cypress Pine has a significant commercial value. It is found throughout western NSW and extends to the Inverell area on the northern tablelands. Although a softwood, White Cypress is noted for its hardness, durability, unique figure and natural resistance to termites. It makes excellent feature floors and is also suited to a wide range of both external and internal construction purposes.

Exotic Pines (originating from the USA)
have been established in northern NSW over many years, the main species being Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii), Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda) and Radiata Pine (Pinus radiata). Slash and Loblolly Pine are suited to sandier, generally poorer soils and have been established closer to the coast where rainfall is relatively high. Radiata Pine is suited to colder climates and the largest plantation areas are found east of Glen Innes and in the Walcha-Nundle area. The timber from these species is suited to general construction, flooring, panelling, plywood and preservation posts.

Rainforest Timbers (previously known as brushwood or softwood)
There is a large range of commercially valuable rainforest timbers however general-purpose rainforest logging ceased in the mid 1980's. The use of these timbers is now confined to specialty purpose applications such as furniture components and woodturning and most often involves single tree selection on private land.

References
Forest Trees of Australia. CSIRO. 1984.
D.J. Boland and others.

Eucalyptus. An Illustrated Guide to Indentification. Reed Books. 1996.
Brooker and Kleinig.

Produced by:
John Macgregor-Skinner NRRDB
Northern New South Wales Forestry Services
Max Egan Centre for Sustainable Tropical Forestry

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