What is the hardest Australian wood?

Answer 1

Red Ironbark (Eucalyptus Crebra) and Grey Ironbark (Eucalyptus Drepanophylla) would probably be about the hardest aussie native timbers. Their density rating is around 1100 kg/m3. Round about hard as it gets for timber. Easiest to work when green but once it dries (seasoned) it becomes much more difficult to work with. If you want to hammer a nail into it successfully you best drill a hole first, and it takes it's toll on even the sharpest tools. Typical uses for this timber during the last 200 odd years are heavy engineering construction, poles, piles, decking, flooring and shipbuilding. It's a difficult timber to work with which prevents it's use to full potential. As it is a very common tree in the eastern states of Australia you will see many (their the dark trees with the really rough bark) as you drive through a bit of australian bush.