Species of Australian hardwood
Choosing the right timber for your home, whether you're planning on building or furnishing your home, can be a difficult task - there's just so many types to pick from! Contrary to popular belief, not all timbers are created equal, so we've created this handy guide to different types of timber to help you find one that's right for you.
Whether you're after new timber flooring, or are not sure which type of timber to specify for your new dining chairs, different types of wood will naturally possess different types of qualities. Some timbers are harder, or softer, than others, and the range of shades available across all kinds of timber are countless
Australian Beech
One of the most important hardwoods of Australia, Australian Beech is renowned for its strength
One of the most important hardwoods of Australia, Australian Beech is renowned for its strength and versatility of application. Its colouring ranges from cream to pale brown.
Blackbutt
Blackbutt is a commonly grown hardwood with a straight grain and even texture. Its colouring ranges from cream to pale brown, sometimes with a slight tinge of pink.
Cypress Pine
Australian Cypress is a unique Australian timber featuring characteristic golden brown colour with highlights from pale creams to yellow, and features decorative tight knots. This is a very hard wearing timber.
Flooded / Rose Gum
Rose Gum has a straight grain with moderately coarse and even texture. The colouring is an attractive pale pink to red brown colour.
Ironbark
Ironbark is an extremely hard timber, with an interlocked grain and a moderately coarse texture. Grey Ironbark displays a stunning range of colours from pale brown and grey to dark chocolate brown and also dark reds. Red Ironbark has a deep, rich red colouring.
Jarrah
Found mainly in Western Australia, Jarrah is well known for its density and resistance to insect attack. It is incredibly hard, and as such is heavily used for both commercial and residential flooring. Jarrah is a beautiful rich red colour which deepens over time into a soft burgundy.
Karri
One of the world's tallest trees, Karri is native to the southwest corner of Western Australia. It has very high density and hardness. Karri is a lively red colour with overtones from pale pink to rich reddish brown.
Messmate
Messmate is a well-known hardwood species used in a variety of timber applications. It is rich in detail with an even texture and visible growth rings. Messmate varies in colour from pale browns through to light yellows with subtle hints of peach.
New England Oak
This species is found in the New England region of New South Wales. It has a medium and even texture, with a variable grain and prominent growth rings. New England Oak's colouring ranges from soft yellows and pinks to pinkish browns.
Red Mahogany
Red Mahogany is a large tree which grows from Sydney to Northern Queensland. It is prized as a very dense timber with fine grain and deep red colouring.
Ribbon Gum
Mainly found in the cooler areas of Australia from the Mount Lofty Ranges of Victoria to the tablelands of New South Wales, Ribbon Gum has lovely soft pink tones.
Spotted Gum
A very tough timber, Spotted Gum grows on Australia's east coast, from the foothills of the Snowy Mountains in Victoria to the lush coastal regions of southern Queensland. Its colour varies through pale grey browns and soft creams to a rich chocolate brown. It often features a wavy grain which can produce an attractive and highly valued fiddleback effect.
Stringybark
A blend of a number of eucalyptus varieties native to various areas of New South Wales, Stringybark features a moderately fine and even texture with a straight grain. It is generally a light coloured timber ranging from pale yellows through to soft golden hues.
Sydney Blue Gum
Named for its attractive blue grey bark, Sydney Blue Gum colouring ranges from soft brown reds to deep rich reds. It has a straight grain that is sometimes interlocked.
Tallowwood
Tallowwood is a prestigious timber with an even and often interlocked grain. It is an exceptionally durable hardwood species with unique colour and grain structure. Tallowwood varies in colour from yellowish brown with a tinge of olive green to distinctively paler shades.
Tasmanian Oak
Commonly found in Tasmania, this timber ranges from pale cream to pink and a light reddish brown. The grain is extremely straight and even. Tasmanian Oak has excellent dimensional stability, making it an ideal choice for extreme climates or over radiant heat.
Turpentine
Turpentine is a very durable hardwood which is commonly grown in New South Wales and southern Queensland. It has a straight grain and coarse but even texture. Turpentine varies in colour from pale pink and pale reddish brown through to darker reddish brown.
White Oak
White oak is a commonly grown hardwood with a straight grain and even texture. Its colouring ranges from cream to pale brown.
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