Sugar Gum (Eucalyptus cladocalyx) originates in South Australia in three distinct populations: the Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island.
Sugar Gum is also widely planted across the drier western district of Victora as a windbreak or shelterbelt and for durable farming timber as well as magnificent firewood.
Sawn timber harvested from sugar gum has little defect and is prized for its durability. It is particularly suited to situations requiring high strength where appearance is also important, such as flooring and joinery. Its durability also makes it a valuable timber for exterior applications such as cladding, decking, outdoor furniture and pickets.
The Forests Commission recognised value of sugar gum from its earliest days.
In 1890, a nursery was established at Gunbower Island to grow sugar-gums and blue gums for the arid dry plains of the Avoca and Loddon catchments, and the dry sandy mallee wastes of the north-west and northern portions of the Colony.
By 1905, it was reported that large wattle and sugar gum plantations were established in the Portland district, and smaller ones at Mount Beckwith, Eddington and Cave Hill.
The 1907-08 annual report stated that plantations at You Yangs, near Lara cover some 1,300 acres, and consist chiefly of blue gum, sugar gum, pine of several species, and wattles for tanning.
A year later it was reported that commencement has been made at Dimboola, where 2,500 acres are enclosed with sowing and planting of sugar gum, bluegum and various other hardwoods.
The plantation expansion continued, and by 1917 the Commission reported “Eucalypts, chiefly ironbark, spotted gum, blackbutt, red mahogany, and sugar gum, were planted and sown at Dimboola, Dargile, Callawadda, and Korumburra, to the extent of 320 acres. Black featherleaf wattle was sown on 393 acres at the Grampians, at Lake Lonsdale (near Stawell), and at Mount Beckworth (near Clunes).
However, it now appears that there are only four significant areas of sugar gum plantation remaining.
- Barrett near Dimboola – 160 ha. A late planting – perhaps 1960s -1970s. Very small areas can also be found in the Bryntirion State forest dating from the 1950s.
- Majorca near Maryborough – 210 ha. Establishment of this plantation was underway as early as 1887.
- Wail – 300 ha. Surrounding the old FCV nursery from about 1909-1910.
- You Yangs – 680 ha. Establishment of this plantation was underway in 1887 and trees can still be found.
Given the expected shortfall in firewood with the cessation of timber harvesting on State forest in 2025, it seems a shame that these plantations were not maintained and expanded.
Victoria’s Forests & Bushfire Heritage 