Bunya Pine

By Geoff Holloway

Bunya Pine (Araucaria bidwillii) This is a large evergreen conifer, which in the mature tree has a dome-shaped crown defined by dense tufts of branchlets with the foliage at the branch ends. The dark green glossy leaves taper at both ends and the cones are very large being 20-35cm in diameter and weighing up to 10kg. Height 35m Spread 15m. Trees of this species can live for 600 years.

The species is native to the Bunya mountains but is grown all over Australia. It grows in various habitats from moist valley floors at low altitudes to ridge tops and upper slopes and is normally found as an emergent in rainforests.

It has been a sacred tree for indigenous Australians for a long time and an important source of food, timber and fibre. The timber is valued by cabinet makers and woodworkers, and has been used for carpentry, furniture and acoustic guitar soundboards for over a century.

Heartwood is light brown, sometimes with a yellow or red hue. Paler sapwood isn’t clearly defined. Sometimes afflicted with blue/grey fungal staining, particularly if not dried properly. Grain is usually straight to interlocked, with a fine to medium uniform texture.