A review of current research of native Australian species for value-added opportunities

In the past, most indigenous Australian hardwoods have been used for structural applications, so the engineering properties of Australian timbers are well recognized and well documented. However, the technology required to convert these timber species into high quality products is not readily available. The species with potential for future use have high density, high stiffness, and high strength compared with overseas hardwoods typically used for furniture. However, these hardwoods are often prone to collapse and the formation of surface checks, particularly on the backsawn face, and often have high levels of extractives. Currently available processing techniques used in Australia and overseas are often not applicable to these hardwoods. New drying procedures are required that produce high quality timber free from degrade and internal stresses, suitable for further processing. Improved machining, gluing, and finishing techniques are also needed. Research studies are being carried out in Australia to develop the techniques to facilitate the value-adding process. The discussion presented here describes some of this research and its impact on high quality wood processing and the timber industry in the 21st century.

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