Toughest Timber
Settlers Exploit the Coolibah’s Unique Properties
Early settlers on Kamilaroi Country were probably unprepared for the might of the Coolibah tree. One of the hardest woods in the world, felling a Coolibah was the fastest way to blunt an axe. Undeterred, the resolute settlers pushed onwards and outwards, conquering the flood plains and transforming the fields into pasture.
A member of the Box species with a fine, durable circular grain, the Coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) can grow up to fifteen metres tall with trunks up to six metres in diameter. Its habitat is flat floodplains and lands that are subject to regular inundations grow the tallest, straightest trees.
Colonial settlers favoured hardwoods like the Coolibah and Iron Bark for their durability and the tall straight Coolibahs of the Namoi were ideal for stock troughs. Settlers used a range of axes and cutting techniques to prevent the wood from splitting along the grain.
The Coolibah was used by the Kamilaroi people as a bush medicine and in addition to keeping water cool in hot weather. The timber may have imparted trace elements that kept livestock healthy. This trough has iron ends, but they were also sometimes fitted with boards and sealed with clay and tar.
A combination of human activities has significantly altered the Coolibah’s habitat. Clearing undertaken by colonial settlers; the subsequent introduction of invasive weeds; intensive grazing; changes to patterns of inundation; and the use of pesticides, have all contributed to the degradation.
As a result, the Coolibah is classed as near-threatened, and Coolibah – Black Box Woodlands that meet specific criteria are now protected under environmental protection laws introduced in 1999.
