Woods for Flooring in Australia
Welcome to this page, where you will find a comprehensive collection of species data information sheets dedicated to various Australian hardwood species that are frequently utilised in the manufacturing of wood flooring in Australia. Each information sheet provides detailed insights into the unique characteristics and properties of these native timbers, enabling you to make informed decisions when nextr selecting woods for flooring projects.Discover Australian Wood Varieties
Here, you are invited to explore an array of Australian hardwood types. For each species, we provide essential details, including the Botanical Name, which offers insight into its scientific classification. Additionally, you will find the Janka Hardness Rating, a crucial measure that indicates the wood’s resistance to wear and denting, alongside its Timber Density, which can affect its weight and durability. Furthermore, the Strength Group classification is included, giving you an understanding of each wood’s load-bearing capabilities. The Fire Indices are also listed, highlighting the wood’s performance in fire conditions, an important consideration for safety and building regulations. Lastly, information on Termite Resistance is provided, offering an evaluation of the wood’s resilience against termite infestations, a vital factor for long-term durability in Australian environments.Types of timber and Australian hardwood used in solid and engineered timber flooring.
Australian Beech
Australian Beech, widely recognized as Myrtle Beech or Tasmanian Myrtle, predominantly flourishes in the eastern parts of Victoria and the lush landscapes of Tasmania. Despite not being directly related to European Myrtle in a botanical sense, early timber workers in the region bestowed this name upon it. They were struck by the striking similarities in characteristics between Australian Beech and the European variety, which led them to draw this connection. This historical naming reflects both the visual and textural resemblances that early settlers observed when they first encountered these magnificent trees in their natural habitat.
Blackbutt
Blackbutt stands out as one of our nation’s most significant hardwood species, valued for its multifaceted contributions to both the ecosystem and industry. Beyond its integral role as a primary food source for koalas, this versatile hardwood is celebrated for the exceptional quality of timber it produces, making it a sought-after material in various woodworking and construction applications. What truly sets Blackbutt apart is its remarkable ability to regenerate with ease, coupled with a relatively rapid growth rate. This combination not only ensures a sustainable supply of this valuable resource but also underscores its ecological resilience, allowing it to thrive and replenish in its natural environment swiftly. As a result, Blackbutt continues to be a cornerstone in sustainable forestry practices, balancing ecological needs with human demands.
Brushbox
Often known by various names such as vinegar tree, box scrub, pink box, Brisbane box, or Queensland box, the Brushbox is a versatile and widely recognized tree species. It is commonly planted as a city tree throughout eastern Australia, where its presence enhances urban landscapes with its lush foliage and robust structure. However, the natural habitat of the Brushbox is in the coastal regions of Queensland and the northeastern areas of New South Wales. In these locations, it thrives in its native environment, contributing to the biodiversity and ecological balance of the region. Its adaptability to both urban and natural settings makes it a valued tree for both environmental and aesthetic purposes, providing shade, beauty, and habitat for various wildlife species.
Forest Reds
Forest reds, rather than being derived from a single type of tree, represent a broad category of timber known for its distinctive qualities. This category primarily includes wood sourced from red river gum trees, a specific variety of eucalyptus. These trees are highly valued for their exceptional durability, making the timber an excellent choice for various construction and woodworking applications. Moreover, the wood’s striking, lush red colour adds to its appeal, making it a sought-after material for both practical and aesthetic purposes. The unique hue not only enhances the visual appeal of furniture and flooring but also brings a warm, natural touch to any space. This combination of strength and beauty ensures that forest reds remain a popular choice among builders, designers, and craftsmen alike, who appreciate both the functionality and the aesthetic charm that this timber provides.
Grey Ironbark
Grey Ironbark, frequently found throughout eastern New South Wales, is a resilient and versatile tree that is sometimes referred to by other names such as “white ironbark” or simply “ironbark.” This tree is easily identified by its distinctive appearance, characterised by a dark trunk covered with deeply furrowed bark, which gives it a rugged and textured look. Typically, Grey Ironbark can grow to an impressive average height ranging from 20 to 30 meters, making it a prominent feature in its natural habitat. Its sturdy nature and substantial size contribute to its popularity and usefulness in various applications, such as construction and landscaping. In addition to its practical uses, Grey Ironbark also plays an important ecological role, providing habitat and food for a variety of wildlife, further highlighting its significance within the ecosystems of New South Wales.
Jarrah
Jarrah is a prominent and widespread tree species in the southwestern regions of Western Australia, where it thrives in the native landscape. This remarkable tree is easily recognizable by its stringy bark, which peels away in long, vertical strips, adding a unique texture to its appearance. Jarrah trees can grow to an impressive maximum height of around 40 meters, making them towering giants in their natural habitat. Their robust and expansive structure plays a crucial role in the local ecosystem, offering shelter and habitat to a diverse array of wildlife. Notably, jarrah trees are known for providing essential homes to various wild animals and insects, with bees being particularly reliant on them. The nectar and pollen from jarrah blossoms are vital resources for bee populations, supporting their health and productivity. Additionally, the wood of the jarrah tree is highly valued for its durability and rich, reddish hue, making it a sought-after material for furniture, flooring, and other timber products. This combination of ecological importance and practical utility underscores the significant role that jarrah trees play in both the environment and human industry.
Messmate
Messmate, a hardwood originating from southeastern Australia, is recognized by several names, including Tasmanian Oak, Stringybark, Brown Top, and Australian Oak. This impressive tree is capable of reaching towering heights of up to 90 meters, with trunks that can grow to an astounding 3 meters in diameter. Its substantial size and versatility make it a prominent and valued species within its native region.
New England Oak
The New England Oak, also known as Manna Gum, grows with a straight and tall stature, often reaching impressive heights of around 40 meters. Its trunk can expand to over 3 meters in diameter, showcasing its robust nature. Native to southeastern Australia, this resilient tree is well-adapted to withstand harsh conditions, capable of surviving temperatures as low as -15 degrees Celsius.
Red Ironbark
Nearly as tough and resilient as its close cousin the grey ironbark, red ironbark trees are an evergreen eucalyptus that grow to approximately 30 meters tall. Often called a mugga, mugga ironbark, or pink ironbark, the tree is especially hardy and can grow in some of the most desolate types of sandy soils.
Red Mahogany
Incredibly dense, Red Mahogany is a distinctive eucalyptus varietal found in eastern Australia, ranging in the north to around Gladstone, Queensland to as far south as Jervis Bay. Red Mahogany thrives in medium-to-high-fertility soils and grows to between 20 and 30 meters tall, though it’s not unheard of for a particularly robust specimen to top out at 45 meters.
Spotted Gum
A tall, straight-trunked tree that gets its name from the distinctive mottled weathering pattern on its outer bark layers, the spotted gum typically reaches 45 meters in height. There have been some reports of this eucalyptus varietal reaching rarefied heights of up to 90 meters or more, but this is exceedingly rare.
Stringybark
A collection of different blondewood species, stringybark varietals are often found in the Northern Territory. While heights can vary considerably, many stringybark species top out at around 45 meters tall and features bark that has been described as tessellated, rough, and, well, stringy.
Sydney Blue Gum
A large flowering hardwood that stretches from Queensland to the New South Wales seaboard, the Sydney blue gum can grow as tall as 65m high and with a trunk diameter between 2 and 2.5 meters. Sydney blue gum trees bloom from December through February in bunches of seven to eleven distinctive white flowers.
Tallowwood
Native and common to both Queensland and New South Wales, tallowwood is a tall evergreen, growing to around 40 meters and dependent on moderately fertile soil and high levels of direct sunlight. Tallowwood, despite its dependence on fertile soil and direct sunlight, has been known to thrive in mountainous and hilly and locations where it’s occasionally subjected to both excessive frost and drought.
Tasmanian Oak
Timber advertised as Tasmanian Oak, or “Tassie Oak” is most often a combination of three distinct species of tree, all of which are found most often in – you guessed it – Tasmania. And while they are all certainly similar there is a wide amount of variation between the three.
Turpentine
Native to New South Wales and Greenland, the turpentine tree is, strangely enough, not used as a source for turpentine oil – it simply shares a name thanks to the smell of turpentine released when its leaves are crushed. Reaching as high as 60 meters and routinely growing on heavier soils, turpentine is a large, straight-trunked tree with a trunk diameter that can approach 1.5 meters.
Victorian Ash
One of the three sub-alpine timbers used in creating the blend known as Tasmanian oak, Victorian ash is also often known as “Vic Ash” (if you’re standing at the trade desk), alpine ash – or sometimes alpine ash mixed with mountain ash, one of the other timbers used in creating Tasmanian oak.