Australian Hardwood Timber Options and Finishes

Timber Options For Our Linear Pendants

At Fluxwood, we primarily use Australian hardwoods sourced from sustainable Australian suppliers. Here are some of the most common Australian hardwood types used in our timber lighting range and other timber applications. 

Australian hardwood types and typical colours 

• Victorian Ash – pale pink to yellowish-brown
• Spotted Gum – light brown through to dark red-brown 
• Tasmanian Blackwood – rich golden brown

Imported hardwoods with FSC certification

• American Oak – light coloured and can be light to dark brown
• American Walnut
• Maple

Victorian Ash (Eucalyptus Regnans)

Victorian ash can refer to the wood of either of the Eucalyptus regnans or Eucalyptus delegatensis tree, when it is sourced from Victoria. The same wood sourced from Tasmania is called Tasmanian oak. A dominant tree common throughout cool, mostly mountainous areas in Victoria, with stands of tall trees are found in the Otway, Dandenong, Yarra and Strzelecki ranges as well as Mount Disappointment and East Gippsland, and Tasmania, in the Huon and Derwent River valleys in the southeast of the state.

Is Victorian ash a hardwood? 

Victorian ash is the most common wood-based building material used in Australia and yes, it is a hardwood timber. Victorian ash usually has a straight grain but may also produce fiddleback markings and have visible gum veins. The heartwood ranges from pale pink to yellowish-brown and is often indistinguishable in colour from the sapwood.

You can learn more about Victorian Ash hardwood timber here.

Spotted Gum (Corymbia Maculata, Corymbia Citrodora, Eucalyptus Henryi)

Spotted Gum is one of Australia’s premium native hardwoods with a striking appearance and a high degree of natural durability and strength. Spotted Gum is the common name for four timber species that grow along the east coast of Australia, from northeast Victoria to the northern tablelands of Queensland, with some occurrence in western areas of southern Queensland. 

Spotted Gum Australian hardwood timber colours

The heartwood ranges from light brown through to dark red-brown hues. Sapwood is usually white to light brown in colour. The presence of a wavy grain can produce an attractive fiddleback figure used commonly in external cladding, flooring and statement structural poles.

Spotted Gum is one of the most versatile Australian hardwood timber colours, complimenting a variety of design iterations. Pictured here is our Tenn Pendant in the Habitat House project. You can learn more about Spotted Gum timber and its applications here.

Tasmanian Blackwood (Acacia Melanoxylon)

Blackwood is a medium-sized Australian hardwood that grows from eastern South Australia to southern Queensland coastal areas. In the wetter areas of Tasmania it is grown in large volumes.

Tasmanian blackwood grain & colour

Tasmanian blackwood is definitely an ‘appearance timber’, with a heartwood that is a rich golden brown. This is sometimes complemented by reddish streaks or a narrow band of darker colour, indicative of the growth rings. The sapwood is much paler in appearance. Blackwood has a medium and even texture. Its grain can either be straight or have a wavy fiddleback pattern.

You can learn more about Tasmanian blackwood timber here.

American Oak (Quercus Alba)

Also known as Northern White Oak or Southern White Oak, White Oak is grown in North America and has a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, meaning it is sustainably grown and harvested.

American oak grain & colour

The sapwood of American white oak is light coloured and the heartwood is light to dark brown. White oak is mostly straight grained with a medium to coarse texture, with longer rays than red oak. White oak therefore has more figure. 

You can learn more about White oak here.

Request a sample to see Australian hardwood timber colours in person.

It’s important to note that the appearance of some timber species can vary more than others. While the above images are indicative of the species, they may not match your pendant exactly. If you are still unsure which timber is best suited for your project you can contact us your needs or order a timber sample. We are also able to source a variety of other timbers if you require a custom timber species for your pendant.

More hardwood timber & lighting inspiration 

• Be inspired with our 4 Interesting & Inviting Timber Kitchen Ideas
• Lean into the latest colour trends with our take on the Dulux Colour Forecast 2024 with Interior Lighting Design Ideas