189 
The following note is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald of 25th October, 
1861. While a big log, the biggest logs were not transported far in the old days, 
for the reason that suitable appliances were wanting :— 
Yesterday afternoon our attention was called to four logs of cedar—being a portion of one tree— 
which had just been discharged at Russell’s Wharf, Sussex-street, from the iron schooner “ Black Diamond,” 
from the Richmond. We understand that these are the largest logs ever brought to this market, and measure 
14,359 superficial feet. With one exception, they are irregular .shaped, the largest, which is 8 feet in 
length, measuring 23 feet in circumference; the next, 7 ft. 10 in. in length, and 22 ft. 4 in. in circumfer¬ 
ence ; the third, 7 feet in length, and 21 ft. 9 in. in circumference ; the fourth, 9 feet in length, and 4 feet 
square. Each piece weighs from 5 to 6 tons. It appears that the tree was cut down about two years ago, 
but owing to its ponderous weight there was no means of getting it removed until very recently, when an 
extraordinary fresh occurring in the Richmond River it was floated down to the vessel’s side, and shipped 
with great difficulty, owing to the absence of proper mechanical appliances. 
Habitat. —See vol. i, p. 59. (See also “ Propagation.”) 
Will only grow in certain situations, a very rich-looking, dark, deep soil, free from sour iron, being 
most suitable; well sheltered from the wind, the top of a ridge or a snug pocket on a hillside being its 
favourite locality. Generally grows in clumps of twos and threes. As regards the Dorrigo, the cedar belt 
runs from the Murray River on the west to Paddy’s Plain at the northern end, the east side showing 
practically none. 
Was mostly pit-sawn into junk (square timbers) by the old sawyers, who wasted a large quantity 
in doing so through wantonness, cedar being then very plentiful, quantities in the head which could have 
been sawn being left to rot. On my selection of 180 acres, which had had more cedar on it than any other 
selection I know of on the Dorrigo, the suckers on stumps cut sixteen or twenty years ago were only about 
5 feet in height and very thin, though the scrub around was dotted with young cedars. The old cedar- 
getters usually worked about three months in the year, taking a load of cedar to Grafton or Bellingen, and 
with the proceeds buying enough food and grog to do them three or four months. When this would start 
running out, they would then go into the scrub for another load, and so on until the timber cut out. 
Drawing weight is 500 feet to the ton, dry. 
It is now practically cut on the Dorrigo.—(Robert Kaleski.) 
Very large buttressed trees, but becoming very scarce, the supply being obtained from trees supposed 
to be cut some thirty or more years ago, in most cases not in any way having deteriorated, although lying 
in the forest so long.—(Acacia Creek, Macpherson Range, W. Dunn and J. L. Boorman.) 
The following notes are taken from the Catal. Queensland Forestry Museum , 
1904 :— 
So much of this valuable timber having been cut in former years, particularly in those parts which 
were most accessible, only occasional trees are now to be met with in the Southern Coastal district, and 
these are chiefly along Macpherson’s and the Blackall Ranges, on the heads of the various creeks flowing 
therefrom. It is fairly plentiful along the west side of the range from the head of the Condamine River 
to that of Dalrymple Creek ; also on the Eungella Range, in Mackay District, especially on the west side ; 
and there are large quantities in the Cairns, Herberton, and Atherton Districts. A very large tree, with 
dark-brown scaly bark. In the south, it is usually found on steep mountain sides and deep rocky gorges, 
but in less rugged country in the north. 
So far as I can learn, the most southern cedar tree in New South Wales is at Tillowrie, Milton, on 
the property of my brother William Cambage, growing on igneous formation, and, of course, originally 
formed part of a brush. This species had most to do with first taking settlers to Milton and Ulladul 
and, in fact, to many other coastal spots.—(R. H. Cambage.) 
At Sackville (just past Tizzana) is a large spreading red cedar of several 
stems, by the banks of the river. This is one of the few remaining Hawkesbury 
River cedar trees. 
