Crow’s ash is a large hardwood species that is native to northern NSW and parts of Queensland. It is used mainly for flooring, boat building and outdoor furniture.
Australian Teak, Flindosy, Nutwood, Colonial Tea
Flindersia australis
![](/sites/default/files/styles/detail_image/public/Flindersiaaustralis.jpg?itok=d86nBibm)
Crow’s ash, also known as Australian teak, is a large hardwood species native to parts of northern New South Wales and Queensland. It grows in the coastal rainforests from northern News South Wales to Gladstone in Queensland and can reach up to 40m in height.
Crow’s ash is slow to dry and surface checking may occur if it is dried too quickly. Its heartwood is golden yellow with a more distinct, paler sapwood. Aside from appearance, Crow’s ash main benefit is that it is a very strong timber.
Crow’s ash is predominately used for flooring and decking. It is also used for boat building and outdoor furniture. In times gone by it was used as flooring for dance halls due to its highly durable characteristics.
While it is visually appealing, this species is not easy to work with, which limits the applications it can be used for. Crow’s ash is quite greasy which means it is hard to glue and nail.
Due to its limited availability, Crow’s ash timber may attract a premium.
Shrinkage
Very Low | Low | Medium | High | Very High | |
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Tangential : |
4.20%
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Radial : |
3.30%
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Unit Movement Tangential: |
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Unit Movement Radial: |
Strength Group
![Strength groups are given for unseasoned (S1-S7) and seasoned (SD1-SD8) timber in accordance with AS 2878. S1 and SD1 yield the highest strength and stiffness whereas S7 and SD8 yield the lowest.](/themes/custom/woodsolutions/images/tooltip.png)
Very High |
High |
Reasonably High |
Medium High |
Medium |
Reasonably Low |
Low |
Very Low |
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Unseasoned: |
S1 |
S2 |
S3 |
S4 |
S5 |
S6 |
S7 |
S8 |
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Seasoned: |
SD1 |
SD2 |
SD3 |
SD4 |
SD5 |
SD6 |
SD7 |
SD8 |
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Stress Grade
![A stress grade is defined in AS 1720 as the classification of timber for structural purposes by means of either visual or machine grading. The stress grade indicates the basic working stresses and stiffnesses to be used for structural design purposes. Measured in MPa.](/themes/custom/woodsolutions/images/tooltip.png)
Structural No. 1 |
Structural No. 2 |
Structural No. 3 |
Structural No. 4 |
Structural No. 5 |
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Unseasoned: |
F27 |
F17 |
F14 |
F11 |
F8 |
Seasoned: |
F27 |
F22 |
F17 |
F14 |
F11 |
Density per Standard
![Seasoned density is based on moisture content of 12%. Unseasoned density is an approximation as it depends on the moisture content at the time of measurement. Measured kg/m3.](/themes/custom/woodsolutions/images/tooltip.png)
Seasoned: |
950kg/m3
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Unseasoned: |
1050kg/m3
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Joint Group
![The joint group is a classification of the strength of a species in joint design. The values are from 1 (very high strength) to 6 (very low strength).](/themes/custom/woodsolutions/images/tooltip.png)
Very High |
High |
Reasonably High |
Medium |
Low |
Very Low |
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Unseasoned: |
J1 |
J2 |
J3 |
J4 |
J5 |
J6 |
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Seasoned: |
JD1 |
JD2 |
JD3 |
JD4 |
JD5 |
JD6 |
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Colour
![The colour of seasoned heartwood can vary between species and often within a species. The information provided should be used as a general guide only. In most cases, the colour of sapwood is either a lighter shade of the heartwood or a white/cream colour.](/themes/custom/woodsolutions/images/tooltip.png)
White, yellow, pale straw to light brown | Pink to pink brown | Light to dark red | Brown, chocolate, mottled or streaky | |
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Mechanical Properties
Modulus of Rupture - Unseasoned: |
110
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Modulus of Rupture - Seasoned: |
137
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Modulus of Elasticity - Unseasoned: |
15.6
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Modulus of Elasticity - Seasoned: |
17
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Maximum Crushing Strength - Unseasoned: ![]() |
54
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Maximum Crushing Strength - Seasoned: |
73
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Impact - Unseasoned: |
23
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Impact - Seasoned: |
17
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Toughness - Unseasoned: |
Medium - 15 - 24 Nm
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Toughness - Seasoned: |
Medium - 15 - 24 Nm
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Hardness - Unseasoned: |
9.2
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Hardness - Seasoned: |
14.7
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Durability
Low | Moderate | Reasonably High | High | |
(0 - 5 yrs) | (5 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 25 yrs) | (more than 25 yrs) | |
In-Ground: |
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(0 - 7 yrs) | (7 - 15 yrs) | (15 - 40 yrs) | (More than 40 yrs) | |
Above ground: |
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(0 - 20 yrs, usually < 5) | (21 - 40 yrs) | (41 - 64 yrs) | (More than 60 yrs) | |
Marine Borer Resistance: |
Lyctid Borer Susceptibility: |
Susceptible |
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Lyctid Borer Susceptibility - Other: |
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Termite Resistance: |
Resistant
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Fire Properties
1 - non-combustible | 2 - reasonably non-combustible | 3 - slightly combustible | 4 - combustible | |
Fire Properties Group |
Group Number - Other: |
3 if used on MDF or particleboard ≥12mm; veneer thickness 0.6 - 0.85mm
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Average Specific Extinction Area: |
<250
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Bushfire Resistance: |
Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) 12.5 and 19 – All AS 3959 required applications
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The heartwood of Crow’s ash is a rich golden yellow, with the sapwood distinctively paler and around 25-40mm wide. It has a medium and even texture and the appearance of the grain is often interlocked. Crow’s ash has a very greasy surface due to the occurrence of natural oils.
Crow’s ash is a highly durable timber, but due to its poor workability it is limited to certain applications. It is mainly used for flooring and decking, where its rich golden colour can be admired. Many old dance halls in Australia used Crow’s ash flooring, with many still in fantastic condition — a testament to the toughness of this species. Crow’s ash is also used for boat building and outdoor furniture.
Crow’s ash has a poor workability in part due to its greasy surface. It is hard to glue and its nail holding ability is poor and may also split along the grain if nailed. It will provide fair results for steam bending. One of the main benefits of using Crow’s ash is that is a very hard-wearing timber.
![a room with benches and paintings on the wall](/sites/default/files/styles/teaser/public/NPGINTERIORGallery1.jpg?itok=8d9P6KSj)