Messmate. (Eucalyptus obliqua)

Messmate (Eucalyptus obliqua) , also called Messmate Stringybark, grows naturally in parts of Victoria and Tasmania, and less widely in South Australia, the tablelands of NSW and southern Queensland.

The timber is brown to light-brown, with a straight grain and some gum veins. it is only moderately durable but can be used in exposed locations if a more durable species is not obtainable. Also grown in plantations in New Zealand.

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Perhaps somewhere, sometime in the last century, a gold digger uttered these words as he surveyed his collapsed mine shaft, "It's a real mess mate!" Whole forests of Messmate were used as support timbers.

Messmate, or as it is sometimes called Messmate Stringybark, (although it is not a Stringybark just to confuse matters), is a timber which has suffered a fairly impoverished history. It was the first Eucalypt to be documented late in the eighteenth century on an island off the west coast of Tasmania. Given the botanical name Eucalyptus obliqua, it is no wonder that we Australians have indeed viewed it obliquely, so much so that we completely failed to recognise its extraordinary properties. Step outside and look at your, (or your neighbour's), paling fence. There it is - Messmate. Other famous uses? Tomato stakes and pallets.

Meanwhile, we were waxing lyrical about imported Oak, when all the time we could have been using Messmate which is vastly superior and visually is very reminiscent of Oak.

Once again the tide is turning as more and more sawmillers, architects, builders and furniture makers turn their eyes to this, one of the most abundant Victorian hardwoods.

Fairly large kiln dried amounts are now coming on stream so get out the design board and send this timber on its way to becoming one of the world's greatest.

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Messmate is a fine furiture timber. Messmate made into solid timber furniture has a wonderful golden glow. Messmate is a hard timber which resists scuffing and holds a beautiful finish. Gum runs can add a unique touch to every piece of Messmate solid timber furniture.

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With thanks to the Victorian Wood Workers Association