Collection: Forest Red Gum Timber

Forest Red Gum is a highly durable and dense hardwood, renowned for its rich red color and interlocking grain. This versatile timber is harvested from medium to tall forest trees, reaching heights of 20 to 50 meters, predominantly found from southeastern Victoria to southern Papua New Guinea, with an extensive range across Australia. Its excellent durability and appearance make it ideal for both structural and decorative applications.

Appearance of Forest Red Gum Timber

As its name suggests, Forest Red Gum is known for its vibrant red heartwood, which ranges from light to dark red. The sapwood, in contrast, is a paler shade of grey or cream-red, clearly distinct from the heartwood. With a moderately coarse, uniform texture and interlocked grain, Forest Red Gum exhibits an appealing natural aesthetic, suited to high-visibility applications.

Common Applications of Forest Red Gum Timber

Due to its strength and durability, Forest Red Gum is ideal for heavy construction, including wharf and bridge construction, railway sleepers, cross-arms, poles, and piles. In general construction, it is used for house framing, cladding, flooring, decking, and furniture, making it versatile for both indoor and outdoor use. Its stability and color make it highly valued for decorative applications like joinery, outdoor furniture, turnery, and landscaping. Additionally, it is suitable for boatbuilding, machinery bearings, and even low-stress underwater bearings, underscoring its exceptional wear resistance.

Workability of Forest Red Gum Timber

Forest Red Gum is rated Class 1 in durability, providing up to 25 years of service in-ground. The timber can be kiln-dried and air-seasoned effectively, though its interlocked grain can make clean dressing on the radial surface challenging. Despite its density, it works well with standard fittings and fastenings. Machining and surface preparation should be done immediately before gluing, and Forest Red Gum readily accepts paint, stain, and polish, allowing for various finishing options. It is fire-resistant, making it suitable for bushfire-prone areas without additional treatment.

Origin and Availability of Forest Red Gum Timber

Kosny Timber sources Forest Red Gum from its extensive natural range across New South Wales and into southeastern Victoria and Queensland. Its unique latitude range and broad availability make it a reliable choice for projects across Australia, especially those requiring both strength and beauty.

 Very LowLowMediumHighVery High
   Check mark Check mark
Tangential :    8.60%
Radial :    4.80%
Unit Movement Tangential:  0.34%  
Unit Movement Radial:  0.25%  

Very High

High

Reasonably High

Medium High

Medium

Reasonably Low

Low

Very Low

Unseasoned:

S1

S2

S3

S4

S5

S6

S7

S8

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Seasoned:

SD1

SD2

SD3

SD4

SD5

SD6

SD7

SD8

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 Structural
No. 1
Structural
No. 2
Structural
No. 3
Structural
No. 4
Structural
No. 5
Unseasoned:F17F14F11F8F7
Seasoned:F22F17F14F11F8

Seasoned:

1000kg/m3

Unseasoned:

1170kg/m3

Very High

High

Reasonably High

Medium

Low

Very Low

Unseasoned:

J1

J2

J3

J4

J5

J6

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Seasoned:

JD1

JD2

JD3

JD4

JD5

JD6

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 White, yellow, pale straw to light brownPink to pink brownLight to dark redBrown, chocolate, mottled or streaky
  
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Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned:85 MPa
Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned:120 MPa
Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned:12 GPa
Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned:14 GPa
Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned:44 MPa
Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned:70 MPa
Impact - Unseasoned:17 J
Impact - Seasoned:15 J
Toughness - Unseasoned:Medium - 15 - 24 Nm
Toughness - Seasoned:Medium - 15 - 24 Nm
Hardness - Unseasoned:8.6
Hardness - Seasoned:11.3
 LowModerateReasonably HighHigh
 (0 - 5 yrs)(5 - 15 yrs)(15 - 25 yrs)(more than 25 yrs)
In-Ground:  Check mark
 (0 - 7 yrs)(7 - 15 yrs)(15 - 40 yrs)(More than 40 yrs)
Above ground:  Check mark
 (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5)(21 - 40 yrs)(41 - 64 yrs)(More than 60 yrs)
Marine Borer Resistance: Check mark 
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility:Not Susceptible
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: 
Termite Resistance:Resistant
1 - non-combustible2 - reasonably non-combustible3 - slightly combustible4 - combustible

Fire Properties Group
Number:

Group Number - Other:

3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6-0.85mm

Average Specific Extinction Area:

<250

Bushfire Resistance:

BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications