Handbook of Western Australia/Appendix A

"Jarrah or Swan River Mahogany is a local name. The tree is not in any way connected with the genus Swietenia, nor does it resemble it in growth. The term Mahogany has been accepted from the wood in some instances bearing a resemblance to that from Honduras and the neighborhood. Although it is one of the Eucalypti peculiar to the Australian Continent, yet this variety is alone to be found in the South-western Districts of the Western Colony. The finest trees grow on the summit of the granite and ironstone ranges, south of Perth, the Capital; those grown on the sandy plains nearer the sea yield a timber of inferior quality, twisted and short in the grain, and not very durable. The forests are of considerable extent, full of noble looking trees springing from among rocky boulders to a height, clear of branches, of from 50 to 60 feet, straight as a mast, and having a girth of from 10 to 20 feet; the foliage evergreen, and just after the hot season covered with large bunches of white sweet scented flowers. When the girth stated is exceeded, the trees generally exhibit signs of decay; but this, the writer has observed, arises from the oldest trees being unable to resist the action of bush fires, which sweep through the forests nearly every year, and from the effects of which only the younger growth can recover."

"Undoubted authority, to be found in the records of the Colony, has declared that Jarrah Timber cannot be equalled, and is, under certain conditions, indestructible. Following are a few extracts: The late Governor of the Colony, His Excellency Sir F. Aloysius Weld, K.C.M.G., in a communication to Earl Kimberley, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, on the subject of Jarrah for marine purposes, says, "that after strict enquiry and the collection of a vast amount of information from sources likely to set at rest all doubts, he takes on himself the responsibility of its introduction to 'Lloyds.'" The Committee of Lloyds', on Governor Weld's representations, informed Earl Kimberley that they had "determined to rank this "timber with those named in line No, 3, Table A, attached to the "Society's Rules for the construction and classification of ships." According to this estimate it was second only to English and American live oak, and standing before sal (shorea robuta) and ​teak (tectona grandis), the two highest class timbers of India, and also before the celebrated greenheart (nectandra rodiœi) of Guiana."

"In the old jetty wort at the port of Fremantle, piles which had been driven 30 years, and others only about one year, could scarcely be distinguished, both being equally sound; large iron bolts through them, have entirely corroded away, leaving the holes clean and sound. Round piles with only their bark peeled off, driven before seasoning, appear to stand as well, if not better, than those which were squared and seasoned. Young, as well as matured wood, had effectually resisted the attack of sea worms. A cargo boat upwards of 20 years old, exposed all the time, as often high and dry as afloat, is as sound as when it was launched. Coasting craft which had been more than 10 years afloat without copper sheathing, are perfectly seaworthy, not a plank perforated or a butt end rotten. A sapling pole which had been set up to mark a shoal near Fremantle, sheathed with copper and guyed with iron chains, was found on inspection to be uninjured after 20 years' exposure; a chip was taken from the water line with a pocket knife and looked like cedar: the copper sheathing and iron chains had both perished. Land boundary posts put in 40 years since show neither weathering, rot, nor injury from termites; letters out on them are still clean and sharp. This is the case also with slabs in the cemetery at Perth, hearing inscriptions dating as far back as 1834. Mooring of cottages, wet and dry according to the season, being laid on the ground without joists, after 25 years shows no signs of decay on either side. As Jarrah has been the timber generally used throughout the Colony ever since its foundation, 49 years ago, there are numerous examples to refer to, proving its durability."

"The durability of this timber depends in a great measure, as in the case of timbers of other countries, on the season it is felled. Here, that is when the sap is dovm, in the hot weather between the months of November and May; it is considered injurious to ring the trees to kill them; it has a tendency, too, to loosen the annular rings; trees are selected, felled, and at once taken to the mill, or, if too awkward to get out, sawyer's pits are dug under them; they are cut up while green, as the saws get through faster and with less labour; if a tree is felled and bailed for some time before conversion it gets nearly as hard as ebony. Contrary to the usual condition of many timbers—oak, for instance—the heart-wood of the Jarrah is of inferior quality, and in overgrown trees is generally rejected as doubtful or worthless; the best timber is selected from outside slabs, and if it shows waney edges or sap wood, they are considered marks of first class quality. Some of the early consignments to India were condemned on account of sapwood. It has been proved since that it does not perish, that termites will not touch it, and that after some time it is harder and stronger than other parts of the timber. The timber being cut up green it requires to be stacked, sheltered from the sun and hot winds, ​otherwise it warps and twists in a most extortionary manner. Cracks, however, in sound wood, running with the grain, are not serious defects, as they generally close (if not from the ends) in the course of a year or two's exposure; the gradual drying, besides preventing torsion or sag, adds to durability; although this is not considered of much account by the owners of timber mills, it is an important point in the matter of stability of structures. Properly cut, properly dried, the material would prove in practice as durable as iron, and under some circumstances would outlive it. The time occupied in drying ought to be one month for every inch in thickness, if timber is sawn or hewn; if round, only banded at the ends to prevent splitting, and sunk in water or buried in sand or mud."

"A great quantity is now being shipped to the Eastern Colonies, for public works in New Zealand and South Australia; it is also finding its way gradually to India, Ceylon, and the Mauritius, chiefly as piles and railway sleepers. The declared value of last year's timber export was over £33,000. Repeated orders coming in shew that consignments give satisfaction."

"The specific gravity of the timber averages about 1·12; if well dried, small scantlings will float in the sea, but when saturated sink. Specimens direct from the mill weigh from 71 to 76lbs. per cubic foot. Careful experiments as to its strength have not yet been systematically gone into, but, so far as represented, the modulus of elasticity in lbs. on the square inch is 1,157,000, and of rupture 20,238. These figures were arrived at by the late Captain Fowke, R.E., from sleepers sent to Ceylon some years ago, they may therefore be considered as minimum values, the quality of such timber being doubtful. A few experiments taken at random with timber not selected: square sawn rods 36 inches long, 1 inch square, laid loose on to bearings 3 feet apart, bore 180lbs. suspended in the centre, without any very great deflection, and without permanent sag. After long saturation, the wood becomes as dark and dense as ebony; old trunks dug out of swamps have somewhat the appearance of bog oak."

"Prices vary according to demand and supply of labor; at present they are considered high, and not likely to rise. The following list may be safely entered in estimates, timber being of first-class quality and sound in every respect, delivered at the ship's side in Gage's Roads, Fremantle, Cockburn Sound, or Geographe Bay:—

The prices quoted are inclusive of all charges and agency on orders of 100 loads and upwards; on smaller orders 5 per cent. extra on estimates. Freight, insurance, home delivery charges, and exchange have to be added. To regular orders an allowance would be made in measurement for rough ends and untrue sawcuts, on fair representation. Measurements on shipment are not very close, a fair margin being allowed for defects should there be any found."