Spotted Gum

The heartwood colour range is quite broad from very pale browns through to very dark browns. Some samples may have a slightly orange tint in the lighter variations. The sapwood is distinctly paler. The grain is often interlocked and generally features some ‘fiddleback’ figure. This wavy type grain may be quite distinctive. This species is sometimes known as Spotted Iron Gum, due to the nature of the timber, which is very dense with excellent mechanical properties. The raw timber has a slightly greasy feel, a property which is well regarded and utilised in tool handles (a common use for this species).

Technical Data

Species Name: Spotted Gum

Botanical Name: Corymbia maculata

Size and location information: A large hardwood of very common occurrence growing in an area ranging from the New South Wales/Victorian border to the Maryborough district in Queensland. It is quite a tall tree up to 50 metres in height. The tree sheds elliptical strips of bark as it weathers and the resultant mottled or spotted appearance lends itself to its common name.

Density: Green: 1200kg/m3 Dry: 1100kg/m3

Janka Hardness Rating: Green: 8.0, Dry: 10.1

Shrinkage: 4.5% Radial, 6.0% tangential

Durability: In ground: Class 2 Above ground: Class 1

Lyctids Susceptibility: Yes

Termite Resistance (AS3660): Yes

Strength Group: S2/SD2

Fire Hazard Properties: Ignitability: 13: Spread of flame: 3: Smoke Development: 3
Uses: Furniture, veneers, panelling, carving, turnery, flooring, boat building, gun stocks.

Workability: Relatively easy to work. Good for steam bending. Glues satisfactorily. Needs much care in drying because of proneness to collapse and internal checking, as well as surface checking on the tangential surface. Reconditioning is standard practice. For good-quality boards it is usual practice to quarter cut the logs.
Uses: Piles, poles, flooring, joinery, decking, tool handles

Availability: Plentiful. Select joinery grade grade tends to have a lot shorter length spec.