236 
TIMBER 
and ironbark piles were used in a railway bridge over the 
Fitzroy River, Rockhampton, and the sleepers were of 
ironbark. The roadway curbs of the Herbert River timber 
bridge, Gairlock, were of Moreton Bay ash. 
Swamp Mahogany, somewhat resembling the West Indian 
wood, is hard and close grained and suited for underground 
work or piles. 
The Paper-barked Tea Tree {Melaleuca leucadendron) is also 
valuable for underground work and piling. 
Gidgee or G-idia {Acacia honialophyllon) is a small tree 
producing prettily-marked wood, and is used as a substitute 
for briar pipes. 
Timbers of South Australia. 
Although the second largest in area of the Australian 
colonies, South Australia has by far the smallest forest area; 
with an acreage nearly equal to that of West Australia it 
has only one-thirtieth of its forest area ; it is to a large 
extent a treeless State. 
There are some tracts of the Red Gum {E. rostrata), the 
Blue Gum (E. leucoxylon), the Sugar Gum {E. corynocalijx) , 
and Grey Box {E. hemipliloia), all useful for railway and 
general purposes, and the Sugar Gum for piling. Pepper- 
mint {E. odorata) is a useful hardwood for ordinary pur- 
poses, and Blackwood is also found in some districts. 
Tbe She Oak, as in New South Wales, and the Tea Trees 
{melalcuca and leptospennum) are to some extent valuable 
because of the durable nature of their wood, which is close 
grained, hard, and heavy, when used underground or in 
water. The native pines make fairly durable telegraph 
poles, lasting from fifteen to seventeen years ; otherwise 
they are of little value except for fences and fuel. 
