Ash, Mountain

A very large Australian hardwood, and the tallest of the eucalypts, mountain ash is from the mountain regions of Tasmania and eastern Victoria.

It may be grouped with alpine ash and messmate and marketed under the trade names Tasmanian oak or Victorian ash, although it is important to note that the proportions of each species can vary considerably.

Mountain ash has a straight grain but visible gum veins are common. With its course or stringy texture, it is sometimes referred to as 'stringy gum'. Mountain ash is similar in appearance to alpine ash. The heartwood is pale brown, sometimes pinkish and, like alpine ash, the sapwood is not always clearly distinguishable.  A fiddleback marking may occur at the butt.

Care needs to be taken when drying mountain ash because it is prone to collapse and internal checking, as well as surface checking on the tangential surface. There is minimal shrinkage after drying.

To ensure good quality boards, logs will be quarter-cut which provides excellent dimensional stability. Reconditioning is standard practice.

Mountain ash can be used for general construction, such as framing, and interior applications such as flooring, paneling, high-end joinery and furniture. It is also used to manufacture plywood and may also be used for weatherboards, cooperage and pulp.