It can grow to an age of 3,000 years or more. Huon pine is found in western Tasmania (not far from Strahan), on the Central Plateau and in the Huon Valley. Huon pine is a relic of Gondwana - the first pollen records date back 135 million years. In the early 1820s, convicts on Sarah Island, in Tasmania's remote west, constructed ships from Huon pine. The wood contains oil that retards the growth of
fungi, hence its early popularity in ship-building. Later, piners on the Franklin and Gordon rivers felled Huons and floated them downstream. Today, the tree is wholly protected and cannot be felled. However, wood on the forest floor, or buried in river beds, remains usable after hundreds of years and is still prized by modern woodworkers. Their slow growth and beautiful honey/butter colour makes them a desirable craft piece - the slow growth rings making them impenetrable by water, and the light weight makes Huon Pine a beautiful piece of jewellery to wear. All of our pieces are hand carved, sanded and oiled to accentuate the already existing beauty of the wood. Please view our sample gallery, all work is done on request, so if you have a different idea, our artist Triso is more than happy to design something uniquely for you.
