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Air-dried timber
Timber that is dried by exposure to air in a yard or shed, without artificial heat (also see seasoning).
Gympie Messmate | Eucalyptus cloeziana
Gympie Messmate – a strong, hard and extremely durable timber.
Gympie Messmate is a strong, versatile and popular timber used for a wide range of interior and exterior applications.
Other Names: Queensland Messmate, Dead Finish, Yellow Messmate
Overview
Gympie Messmate is a large native hardwood harvested commercially in Queensland. Magnificent examples of the species can be found around the Gympie area (hence the name), where it is noted for its excellent stem form and vigour, reaching up to approx 60 metres in height and two metres wide. It is also widely scattered from Tambo to Mundaberra in the east to near Cooktown in Queensland's north, with isolated pockets occurring in between.
Gympie Messmate features yellow-brown heartwood that is strong, hard and extremely durable. Its sapwood is noticeably paler in colour, ranging from white to grey-white. The grain is generally uniform, unfigured, with a fine to medium texture that can sometimes be shallowly interlocked. Bark is soft, flaky, and fibrous with distinctively tessellated fine or coarse longitudinal fissures and is often mistaken for the Yellow Bloodwoods, although there is no relation between these two species.
Plantation-grown Gympie Messmate is readily available. This strong, versatile timber machines, turns, and dresses well and readily accepts paint, stains and polish.
This highly valuable tree species is used for heavy engineering construction, railway sleepers, mining timber, posts, poles and scantling. It is highly resistant to decay from ground contact or in damp, poorly ventilated conditions. These properties make it extremely useful for creating outdoor furniture, turnery and joinery, as well as crafting keeling and framing components in vehicles and carriage building.
Gympie Messmate is often used as sawn and round timbers for wharf and bridge construction, while unseasoned sawn timber is regularly employed for general house framing. Seasoned dressed timber is used for cladding, internal and external flooring, lining, joinery, fencing, landscaping and retaining walls. Most power poles in south east Queensland are created from Gympie Messmate.
Properties
Shrinkage
| Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
Tangential: |
|||||
| 6.0 | |||||
| Radial: | 3 - 4 |
Strength Group
| Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium High | Medium | Reasonably Low | Low | Very Low | |
| Unseasoned: | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | |
| Seasoned: | SD1 | SD2 | SD3 | SD4 | SD5 | SD6 | SD7 | SD8 |
Stress Grade
| Structural No. 1 |
Structural No. 2 |
Structural No. 3 |
Structural No. 4 |
Structural No. 5 |
|
| Unseasoned: | F27 | F17 | F14 | F11 | F8 |
| Seasoned: | F27 | F22 | F17 | F14 | F11 |
Density per Standard
| Unseasoned: | 1100 kg/m3 |
|---|---|
| Seasoned: | 990 kg/m3 |
Joint Group
| Very High | High | Reasonably High | Medium | Low | Very Low | |
| Unseasoned: | J1 | J2 | J3 | J4 | J5 | J6 |
| Seasoned: | JD1 | JD2 | JD3 | JD4 | JD5 | JD6 |
Colour
| White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
Mechanical Properties
| Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: |
94 |
|---|---|
| Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: |
137 |
| Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: |
14 |
| Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: |
17 |
| Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: |
49 |
| Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: |
73 |
| Impact - Unseasoned: |
21 |
| Impact - Seasoned: |
13 |
| Hardness - Unseasoned: |
7.7 |
| Hardness - Seasoned: |
12 |
Durability
| Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
| (0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
| In-Ground: |
||||
| (0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
| Above ground: |
||||
| (0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
| Marine Borer Resistance: |
| Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: |
Not Susceptible |
|---|---|
| Termite Resistance: |
Resistant |
Fire Properties
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | |
| EFH Ignitibility: |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| EFH Spread-of-Flame Index: |
|||||||||||
| EFH Smoke-Developed Index: |
| 1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
| Fire Properties Group Number: |
| Group Number - Other: | 3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6-0.85mm |
|---|---|
| Average Specific Extinction Area: |
<250 |
| Bushfire Resistance: |
BAL 12.5 and 19 – All AS3959 required applications |
Description
| Botanical Name: | Eucalyptus cloeziana |
|---|---|
| Preferred Common Name: | Gympie Messmate |
| Other Names: | Queensland Messmate, Dead Finish, Yellow Messmate |
| Species Type: | Hardwood |
Appearance
Gympie Messmate has yellowish-brown hued heartwood, while its sapwood is noticeably paler in colour, ranging from white to grey-white. The grain is uniform, unfigured, with a fine to medium grain that is sometimes shallowly interlocked. Bark is soft, flaky and fibrous with distinctively tessellated fine or coarse longitudinal fissures, causing it to be confused with the unrelated Yellow Bloodwood.
Common Applications
Gympie Messmate is valued for its versatility, strength and strong resistance to decay resulting from ground contact or constantly damp, poorly ventilated conditions. It is employed in a wide variety of heavy construction applications, including as sawn and round timbers for wharf and bridge construction, railway sleepers, mining timber, posts, poles and scantling. Its water resistant properties make it ideal for crafting keeling and framing components in vehicles and carriage building.
The unseasoned raw timber is often used for general house framing, while seasoned timber is employed by the construction industry for cladding, internal and external flooring, lining, joinery, fencing, landscaping and retaining walls. It also makes excellent outdoor furniture.
Common Form
Sawn
Workability
This strong, versatile timber machines, turns and dresses well and readily accepts paint, stains, and polish. There are no issues with fixing standard fittings and fastenings. When gluing, machining and surface preparation should be done in advance, like most high-density species. The timber can be satisfactorily seasoned using conventional air and kiln methods. Preservatives readily impregnate the sapwood.
Origin of Timber
QLD
Readily Available
QLD
Availability - Further Information
Gympie Messmate’s availability is limited to its State of origin - Queensland.
Applications
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Architectural Roof Trusses
Architectural timber roof trusses create strong visual impact. Often used as part of ‘cathedral ceiling’ systems, timber can be specified light or heavy to suit the chosen theme and style. On finish, they can be left natural or may be oiled, stained, painted or highly decorated. Choice is limited only by individual style and design preferences.
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Decking
Timber decking creates spaces that are functional, practical and aesthetically pleasing. With the right design and care a timber deck will make a valuable addition to any home or business, creating an outdoor living space that will be enjoyed for years to come.
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Doors
Timber is one of the most popular and superior material choices for both internal and external doors. Whether manufactured from solid or engineered timber, there are many stylish and practical options that won't compromise on strength and structural performance. A distinctive timber door can also create visual impact, adding value to any commercial or domestic building.
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External Cladding
The natural appeal, versatility and strength of timber makes it the superior choice for external cladding. Through specification, planning, design and finishing processes, timber cladding not only creates a building of superior strength, acoustic and thermal performance but also creates a place of beauty, style and natural appeal.
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Fencing
When it comes to fencing, timber is your natural choice. A material that is durable, strong and reliable it compliments almost every outdoor landscape and environment. Clear specification, detailed installation and appropriate maintenance will see any timber fence provide a natural and lasting property boundary and back drop for years to come.
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Flooring
Whether for structural or finished flooring applications, timber offers durability, versatility and adaptability. The warmth, strength and natural beauty of timber flooring has proved enduringly popular in a wide variety of interior settings.
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Framing
Since people began building simple shelters, wooden framing has played an important role in shaping structures of many kinds. One of the most popular types of wooden framing is known as lightweight timber construction.
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Internal Paneling
Timber paneling creates interiors as warm as they are stylish. Commonly utilising an MDF or plywood substrate, internal timber paneling is natural and versatile and comes as either solid natural timber panels or as sheets of engineered wood products
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Retaining Walls (Landscaping)
When it comes to retaining wall, landscape design and construction, timber is the natural choice. A material that is durable, sturdy and reliable, it boasts natural aesthetics that help it blend seamlessly with the outdoors. Careful consideration during the specification and design process will facilitate the creation of a long lasting, durable and eye catching timber retaining wall that will complement its surrounding landscape for years to come.
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Shear walls
Lateral loads such as wind or earthquake on framed timber buildings - either post and beam or stud and joist - need to be resisted and shear walls and diaphragms offer an effective and economical solution.
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Structural Timber Poles
Timber poles are utilised in structural construction to provide support for gravity loads and resistance against lateral forces. Not only serving a structural function, timber poles provide many aesthetic benefits, with their use in construction often complementing architectural designs aimed at harmonisation with the natural environment.
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Timber Joinery Products
Timber joinery products offer a classic, unique and stylish touch to any interior design.
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Timber Portal Frames
For buildings that require large spans and column free interiors, timber portal frames provide one of the most aesthetically pleasing solutions. Utilising modern engineering technology, portal frame design transforms timber into a highly effective, efficient and economical structural product. This application guide provides a comprehensive overview of the process of using timber in the specification, fabrication and erection of portal frame structures.
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