Thread: The end of Victorian Ash?

Anthony

I don't think I would be concerned about using Tasmanian Oak instead of Victorian Ash. My understanding is that Tas Oak comprises three species and adds one to the mix compared to Victorian Ash. Tas Oak is Mountain Ash, Alpine Ash and Messmate Stringybark. Victorian Ash does not have Messmate in the mix.

Of course, as you probably already know, none of them are Oaks or even Oak lookalikes.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Anthony

I don't think I would be concerned about using Tasmanian Oak instead of Victorian Ash. My understanding is that Tas Oak comprises three species and adds one to the mix compared to Victorian Ash. Tas Oak is Mountain Ash, Alpine Ash and Messmate Stringybark. Victorian Ash does not have Messmate in the mix.

Of course, as you probably already know, none of them are Oaks or even Oak lookalikes.

Regards
Paul

Don't you love common names, and then "trade names" that permit the sale of a number of species with similar properties under a single name.

Even though wood / timber is a renewable resource in theory, we simply do not have the resources in old growth forests or private and public owned (leased???) plantations or suitable available land for new large scale plantations to satisfy current demands. Any push to expand the use of timber to replace other building materials i.e. steel will place the existing resources under further pressure.

Victoria and WA are facing similar issues to the closure of the timber industry in Far North Queensland in the 1980's with the World Heritage listing of the Wet Tropics rain forests. Compensation is practically nonexistent, with plant and machinery worth a mere fraction of their worth pre closure.

Now, rain forest species are difficult to obtain in small quantities with a very few small scale saw mills about, however legacy stocks of sawn timber becomes available at times. Large commercial volumes are a pipe dream.

My issue with 'Tasmanian Oak' is the quality can be quite variable, given it's from a loose assortment of similar looking woods - including one called Messmate, it's there in the name. Vic Ash has been more consistent and more appealing timber.

This, IMO is superb timber for fine furniture work.
Eucalyptus delegatensis, commonly known as alpine ash, gum-topped stringybark, white-top and in Victoria as woollybutt,

Is that available to you.
One problem is when a retailer doesn't know their timbers and you can't talk the language with them.
About as useful as lumping any meat off a steer as steak

Originally Posted by Avondale

This, IMO is superb timber for fine furniture work.
Eucalyptus delegatensis, commonly known as alpine ash, gum-topped stringybark, white-top and in Victoria as woollybutt,

Is that available to you.
One problem is when a retailer doesn't know their timbers and you can't talk the language with them.
About as useful as lumping any meat off a steer as steak

Alpine Ash is 'Victoria Ash' (along with its relative Mountain Ash). Knowing timbers is one thing, knowing whether or not I will still be able to source quality stock at a reasonable price is another.

That goes to the heart of my question, if Vic Ash becomes not longer available what are the alternatives (beyond Tasmanian Oak). Or for small wood projects will there always be some stock around from private forestry (or plantations), reclaimed and recycled timber, hidden stockpiles in people's garages? Or is there a chance that the Victorian Government will allow forestry on a smaller less intensive basis in forest to supply the furniture industry?

I ask these questions because I am genuinely interested (my first job was in forest policy) and worried about future supplies.

Anthony I was naming a specific species that if you ask a quality miller here would know just what your dilemma is.
To say "Tasmanin oak" lumps in a whole range of eucalyptus timbers to the ignorant reseller who probably has no idea of the attributes other than its all the same despite it coming from different tree variety and location. It's very poor marketing IMO.
I'm with you 100% on your concerns and have been for yonks as I see our forestry practises reduced to a mere morsel of what we once had.

Having worked in and around trees all my very long working life I'm so acutely aware of what we have lost in opportunities to supply quality saw logs for furniture on into the future.
300mm doesn't cut it for me and yet thats touted as a good log today.
So I can't address your query but do know, at the moment, Victorian trucks are leaving Tasmania loaded with our quality saw logs.
Such has been in the media.
That's still not addressing your dilemma other than someone over there is still milling top quality timber

On a side note, I was tasked with informing the powers to be of any suitable bridge building trees I found when traipsing the bush.
Not sure that'd be even a possibility these days.

Originally Posted by Avondale

…I see our forestry practises reduced to a mere morsel of what we once had.

I don’t know how you Taswegians manage your forests, but VicForests deserved to be run out of town. It saddens me that Vic Ash might become scarce, but I’ll be very glad to see that back of those b*stards.