Tasmanian Oak

Blacktown Building Supplies – Tasmanian Oak Hardwood

Tasmanian Oak is a prime hardwood timber that includes three species of eucalypts, which grow in the mountainous regions of Tasmania, Australia. The first is Alpine Ash, which grows in higher altitudes; the next is Mountain Ash, which grows in wetter areas; and then there is Messmate which grows mostly in wet forests but can be found in drier areas as well. Although referred to as oak, you may have gathered that it is not actually of the oak family.

A light or blonde wood, the raw timber varies in colour from straw to reddish-brown with varying shades of cream to pink. Well-known for taking on stains well, it allows for easy matching to other timbers, finishes, and furnishings.

Considered a warm timber that is also resilient and dense, it is a favourite hardwood used in a wide range of applications. It can be used in a variety of construction projects but is a favoured choice when it comes to interior finishes such as flooring and panelling.

One of the many reasons that it is so popular is how versatile it is. It can be glue-laminated to span long distances, and engineered products, plywood, and veneers are also a popular use for this timber. Carpenters also love using this timber to make custom furniture pieces because no matter which application it is used for, it weathers extremely well and produces an excellent finish.

Tasmanian Oak is known by many names, often by the area it is being sold in. These include Australian Oak, Mountain White Gum, Blue Leaf, Whitetop Stringybark, Whitetop, Woollybutt, and the previously mentioned Alpine Ash, Mountain Ash, and Messmate. In New South Wales and Victoria, it is sometimes mistakenly called Victorian Ash. Victorian Ash doesn’t include Messmate though, and this is what gives Tasmanian Oak a less consistent mix of colour and a wider range of shades.