Thread: Cape York Ironwood - What is it?

TS,
the Ironwood that grows on Cape York, is Cooktown Ironwood.There's plenty of it up there.
Never heard of it called Cape York Ironwood though, I cant tell for sure by the pictures you posted if it is in fact Cooktown Ironwood, it may be, but cant say for sure.
The difference between sapwood and heartwood doesnt look right in that second pic, but it could be just the picture, or the sapwoods a bit dirty or stained

I was going to come in and say just what Ironwood wrote. Thumbsucker, I'd be very interested in grabbing 2 or 3 of those boards and working something out with you.

Thats what I thought as well. It sounds and looks like Cooktown Ironwood to me. But yes it does not have that striking sapwood.

I love Cooktown ironwood, I have only been able to source small pieces but I love its density and color.

Waldo, Sinjin asked the same question in a PM. I could get the timber guy to drop of a few at my place and then people can do a pickup from there.

*EDIT* I called him up and left a message on the phone, wait and see for him to call me back.

Is also selling on ebay, or at least has been recently

cheers Mick

That is where I found him. However I am not keen on buying timber sight unseen as it is out in Gippsland. It was argued today that slabs by their nature will have a fair amount of checking and splits, however at $55 a slab for a 3 - 4 meter slab, still makes it cheap and even if half is waste you should still come out at front.

For comparision, Mathews Timber is selling the 30 mm x 200 mm undressed boards of Cooktown Ironwood for $40 per meter.

So the $55 looks like a steal, but then as they say about thing to good to be true.

Originally Posted by thumbsucker

So the $55 looks like a steal, but then as they say about thing to good to be true.

Maybe it is

Their maybe plently of it... but it's getting hards to get. Didn't Terry Gordon change his "basic" timber from Iron wood to Gidgee for this reason?

Jump on it i say. It won't break

I can't find a Cape York Ironwood, I'm guessing that it will be Erythrophleum chlorostachys

Here is the list I can find.

Cooktown Ironwood Erythrophleum chlorostachys

Ironwood Acacia estrophiolata
Ironwood Acacia excelsa
Ironwood Acacia stenophylla
Ironwood Austromyrtus acmenioides
Ironwood Austromyrtus bidwillii
Ironwood Backhousia myrtifolia
Ironwood Backhousia sciadophora
Ironwood Erythrophloem chlorostachys
Ironwood Box Choricarpia leptopetala
Ironwood Box Choricarpia subargentea
Ironwood Wattle Acacia estrophiolata
Ironwood Wattle Acacia excelsa

Giant Ironwood Choricarpia subargentea
Red Ironwood Erythrophleum chlorostachys
Brush Ironwood Acacia aulacocarpa
Lemon Ironwood Backhousia citriodora
Northern Ironwood Erythrophleum chlorostachys

I just got a call from Leo. He says he has about 14 left. He will deliver to Melbourne for between $140 - $160 depending on location.

If a couple of us get a few slabs each we can share the cost of shipping to Melbourne.

14 Slabs would come to $770, with shipping costing $11.43 for shipping per slab.

He advised me to place a bid on his ebay listing, to secure them.

I'd be in for at least two slabs.

Originally Posted by Waldo

I'd be in for at least two slabs.

Anyone else?

I would be in for three. That makes a total of 5 so far.

3 if you need numbers at $55 a pop.

Darn! I wished I was in Melbourne.

It sure looks like Cooktown Ironwood to me. What I noticed with my dealing with CI is that the trees that are growing near a constant water source doesn't have a distinct transition from sapwood to heartwood because of their fast growth rate. Photo 2 looks like one of those trees.

You luck buggers!

Mmmm... you could put me down for two if I can impose on Waldo and his trailer for pickup...

I'm in for 3