Naturally Timber uses only naturally felled, plantation-grown or reclaimed species. Here are our most commonly used timbers, however we source others for specific requirements.
American Oak
BOTANICAL NAME
Quercus alba
COLOUR
Pale Straw to Pale Brown
CHARACTERISTICS
Relatively hard and moderately heavy timber. American Oak has a tight grain pattern that tends to run in a V shape rather than in straight lines. Easy to work with and responds very well to stains and polishes.
American Walnut
BOTANICAL NAME
Juglans nigra
COLOUR
Dark brown to purplish-black
CHARACTERISTICS
Widely distributed throughout central and eastern USA. Used mainly for decorative veneers, but also sought-after for fine furniture. Moderately hard with a course texture that’s easily worked. Usually fine-grained and finishes well, taking an excellent polish.
Australian Red Cedar
BOTANICAL NAME
Thuja plicata
COLOUR
Pale brown to reddish-brown centre; yellowish-white outer
CHARACTERISTICS
Native to South Coast NSW and Norfolk Island.
Blackbutt
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus pilularis.
COLOUR
Pale brown, sometimes pink-tinged.
CHARACTERISTICS
Popular hardwood from plantations along the New South Wales coast.
Blackheart Sassafras
BOTANICAL NAME
Atherosperma.
COLOUR
The bark is grey to light brown.
CHARACTERISTICS
Southern Sassafras normally grows 6-25 metres high, but exceeds 40 metres in Tasmania.
Brushbox
BOTANICAL NAME
Tristiana Conferta.
COLOUR
Pinkish-grey to rich reddish-brown. Reclaimed timber tends to have a deeper and richer colour, depending on age and exposure.
CHARACTERISTICS
Large hardwood tree native from the NSW Central Coast to the Qeensland North-East Coast. Silicate in cells contributes to weather and decay resistance, especially suitable for outdoor furniture. Reclaimed timber is sourced from old wharves, railway carts and sleepers.
Cambia Oak
BOTANICAL NAME
Cambia.
COLOUR
Rich brown due to carbon content, but varies depending on treatment temperature and time (see below).
CHARACTERISTICS
Cambia is a heat treament process that improves decay resistance and dimensional stability, making oak more durable and less likely to distort. It also extends the life of finishes.
Camphor Laurel
BOTANICAL NAME
Cinnamomum camphora.
COLOUR
From light brown to deep roasted brown, often streaked with darker brown or red. Sapwood ranges from near-white to dark browns and reds.
CHARACTERISTICS
Interlocked moderately fine grain with an even texture. Used for tables, benchtops, shelves, lining boards and turned or hand-carved bowls.
English Elm
BOTANICAL NAME
Ulmus bollandica/Ulmus Procera
COLOUR
Heartwood is a light to medium brown
CHARACTERISTICS
The tight-twisted grain provides exceptional strength, durability and water resistance. Uses include furniture, boat-building, flooring and coffins.
European Beechwood
BOTANICAL NAME
Fagus Sylvatica
COLOUR
Ranges from goldish-brown to light pinkish-cream.
CHARACTERISTICS
A popular commercial timber for furniture, decorative detailing, flooring and veneer on musical instruments. The grain is straight with a fine and even texture, making the timber harder than Oak after seasoning but not difficult to work, and suitable for steam bending.
Fijian Mahogany
BOTANICAL NAME
Swietenia macrophylla.
COLOUR
Pinkish to pale brown with reddish-brown streaks, becoming darker and more uniform with exposure to light.
CHARACTERISTICS
Torn and chipped grain is common with figured material. Easy to work by hand and with machine tools, easy to finish and polish. Can be sliced and rotary cut into fine veneer.
Grey Ironbark
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus paniculata & Eucalyptus siderophloia.
COLOUR
From light grey to light chocolate, sometimes with darker reds and browns.
CHARACTERISTICS
Eucalyptus paniculata grows from the NSW far south coast to north of Coffs Harbour. Eurcalyptus siderophloia grows from southern coastal NSW to just north of Brisbane in Queensland.
Jarrah Burl
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus Marginata
COLOUR
Light red to red-brown to dark brick orange-red. Tends to darken with exposure to light
CHARACTERISTICS
Prized among wood turners for its tight knots, swirling grain and rich colour. A Jarrah burl is commonly a rounded outgrowth on the trunk or a branch.
Mackay Cedar
BOTANICAL NAME
Paraserianthes toona
COLOUR
Rich red with straw-coloured streaks causing a straight pattern on the longitudinal surface
CHARACTERISTICS
Moderately semi-hard timber with pronounced vassel lines and occasional curly grain.
Oregon (Douglas-Fir)
BOTANICAL NAME
Pseudotsuga menziesii
COLOUR
Light yellow to medium brown
CHARACTERISTICS
Native to eastern USA, and plantation-grown in Australia. A popular softwood used for building frames, floors and cabinets. Adds a rustic look to furniture, especially with knotholes and nail and putty marks from reclaimed timber.
River Red Gum
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus Camaldulensis Dehnh.
COLOUR
Pinkish red to deep red
CHARACTERISTICS
Australia’s most common eucalypt. Grows along the rivers and streams of the Murray Darling basin. Durability and termite resistance make it popular for heavy duty applications. Hardness and interlocking grain make it difficult to work, yet enduring with a beautiful lustrous finish. Often reclaimed from old railway sleepers, wharves and mine shafts for re-use in furniture manufacturing.
Spotted Gum
BOTANICAL NAME
Corymbia Maculata
COLOUR
Light honey to dark brown with grey tones and occasional purple streaks
CHARACTERISTICS
Among the world’s hardest timbers, suitable for structural and high-impact applications, such as tool handles. The attractive grain can have a fiddleback pattern and gum veins.
Sydney Blue Gum
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus Globulus
COLOUR
Pale pinkish straw to blue/greenish brown
CHARACTERISTICS
Native to south-eastern Australia, but also plantation-grown in other countries. Grain structure varies, but mostly wavy and fiddleback. Exceptional strength makes it ideal for furniture. Traditionally used for heavy construction (eg. bridges and and railway sleepers).
Tasmanian Blackwood
BOTANICAL NAME
Acacia Melanoxylon
COLOUR
Light brown to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tint and black streaks
CHARACTERISTICS
Wattle hardwood, native to Tasmanian wetlands. A favourite for furniture because of its high resilience and ease to work. The attractive irregular grain can be finished into a smooth and lustre.
Tasmanian Oak
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus Delegatensis.
COLOUR
Cream to light pinkish-brown
CHARACTERISTICS
Easy to work, popular for furniture and construction. Excellent staining quality assists colour matching with other timbers and furnishings.
Victorian Ash
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus regnans
COLOUR
Pale pink to straw
CHARACTERISTICS
Consistent medium-density hardwood. Applications include furniture, plywood, joinery, panelling, construction and agricultural implements.
Western Australian Jarrah
BOTANICAL NAME
Eucalyptus Marginata
COLOUR
Dark red to dark brown
CHARACTERISTICS
Unique to Western Australia, and highly regarded worldwide for its hardness, durability and resistance to fire and termites. Used for heavy-duty construction, it has a course texture that yields a rich colour after finishing.
Western Australian Marri
BOTANICAL NAME
Corymbia calophylla
COLOUR
Creamy brown to honey with black gum lines
CHARACTERISTICS
Distinctive veined appearance makes this timber popular for furniture.