AUSTRALIAN HARDWOOD

ABOUT OUR AUSTRALIAN HARDWOOD

One of the local hardwoods James Lane uses to create our handcrafted furniture is the stunning Australian Messmate. Also known as eucalyptus obliqua, this distinctive and popular hardwood can be found growing naturally in south-eastern areas of Australia, in forests around Victoria and Tasmania.

The colour of messmate ranges from pale shades of brown to light yellows and even pretty hints of peach peeping through, giving this hardwood a characteristic warm look and feel. Also called messmate stringy bark, this particular timber takes well to a variety of stain colours – one of the reasons it’s such a popular choice amongst furniture builders.

Messmate timber is known for its uniqueness and aesthetic ‘personality’ – with beautiful whirled patterns, gum veins, pin holes, natural stains from fire, wind and flood, coarse grain and well-defined rings, it’s a beautiful choice for crafting furniture that shines with individuality. (These strong and varied grain patterns come in particular handy for families with pets or small children, as any marks and scratches that happen during the life of the furniture are harder to spot!)

As well as its beauty, messmate is known for its strength – a quality that makes it a perfect choice for building durable furniture that will stand the test of time.