The three-tonne remains of a Huon pine, believed to have set the record for the most expensive log in the country, has caught the eye of people across Australia this week.
The log is thought to be around 3,000 years old, having been recently salvaged from the Teepookana plateau on Tasmania’s West Coast.
Speaking to 7 Tasmania News, Timber World Managing Director Bronte Booth said the pine’s new owners paid around $21,000.
“It’s a beautiful timber and it has some really nice properties … it’s durable and it’s also ancient,” he said.
“But it’s priceless really because it takes so long to grow.”
Tasmania’s native Huon pine is becoming extremely hard to find and highly sought after, with warnings there may only be eight log trucks left of the wood to go.
Timber World says once this log is cut and crafted into individual pieces, it could be worth a total of around $120,000+.
Huon pine is known for its rich gold colour and strong resistance to rot.
It can live for thousands of years, making it one of the most durable and in-demand timbers in Australia.
The timber is often used in everything from fine furniture to boat building and its unique oil gives the wood a distinctive scent.
