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U.B.C. LIBRARY

FORESTRY IN QUEENSLAND.

STATEMENT

PREPARED FOR

THE BRITISH EMPIRE FORESTRY
CONFERENCE.

LONDON: JULY, 1920.

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2010 with funding from

University of British Columbia Library

http://www.archive.org/details/forestryinqueensOObrit

FORESTRY IN QUEENSLAND.

Statement prepared by the Queensland Forest Service.

PART I.

General Description of the Country.

The State of Queensland comprises an area of 670,500 square miles. Of this
the coastal watershed embraces approximately 350,000 square miles and the interior
plain country, drained by tributaries of the Murray River and Lake Eyre, about
320,000 square miles.

For the most part the Dividing Range is a chain of low hills, except in the south,
in the Darling Downs where the elevations range from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. Along
practically the whole length of the east coast and leaving only a small belt of flat
littoral however there is a well-defined range, broken to allow of the exit of the
larger coastal rivers ; this range is generally of higher elevation than the Dividing
Range, and attains an elevation of 5,000 feet in the Bellenden Ker Range near Cairns
on the north-eastern coast..

There being no mountains in Queensland extending beyond the permanent
snow line, the rivers are dependent on the rainfall. Thus the coastal rivers fed by
the Pacific Ocean precipitation of 30 to 140 inches per annum are good permanently
flowing streams, while the watercourses of the interior with rainfall of 5 inch<
25 inches per annum are completely dry in drought seasons.

From a geological point of view Queensland may be divided into two great
parts, occupying nearly equal areas, but possessing very different physical features.
One of these extends along the eastern coast, from the New South Wales border
northwards to the 12th parallel of latitude, has an average width of about 200 miles
from east to west, and is well watered and timbered. To this division also belongs
an area in the north-west portion of the State, viz., in the Burke district, extending
from the extreme north-west southwards to Cloncurry and Boulia. The loftiest
mountain ranges occur in this division, the remnants of what was once a high table-
land, the highest peak, Bellender Ker, attaining an elevation of 5.120 feet.

This region consists of stratified rocks of different ages, from the oldest Paheozoic
— the exact age of older rocks has not yet been determined — up to those of recent
origin. There are also large areas of granites, porphyries partly of igneous and partly
of metamorphic origin, as well as other intrusive and Lnterbedded igneous rocks.
It is in this division that most of the mineral wealth of the St ate exists.

The other large division, known as the Western Interior, consists almost entirely
of the Lower Cretaceous Rocks overlaid unconformably in places by the Desert
Sandstone, which is of Upper Cretaceous Age.

The division, locally known as the Rolling Downs Formation, presents a vast
area, in parts of almost treeless plains, with here and there chimps of " Gidya ' scrub.

The rainfall over this division, more especially in the south-west, is small. The
river beds are generally dry.

On the coastal belts of Queensland on which the bulk of the softwood and
cabinet-wood timbers, the soils have in the main been derived in places and indicate
generally the nature of the surrounding rocks. The extensive deep and red soils
of the high plateaux such as the Atherton Tableland arise chiefly from the decay of
basalts, andesites and allied rock types; the black soils occupy the areas subject
to flooding and the red and chocolate soils the drained hillsides. The sandy soils
originate from the decomposition of the sandstones and allied i \ pes ; i .g., the Gympie
formation covering a huge pan of the south-eastern corner of the State. The clay
soils are duo to the decomposition of Palaeozoic slates, and the light loams originate
from the granites and from mingling of soils by stream action from dark and sandy
rocks associated in the same district. The interior country is for the most, part formed
of sedimentary soils over sandstone. These are black on those areas subjei

(B1856) Wt. P1239— 117. 150. 1/21. Sir J. C, & 8. Gp. 32.

periodical Hooding and red and grey on the higher and drier areas. This belt extends
practically from Cape York covering the western side of the peninsula to the New
South Wales border and represents by far the greater part of Queensland, with
exclusion of the belt near Cloncurry noted.

As before mentioned the rainfall varies considerably. The coast belt fares
best, the fall varying from 30 to 140 inches annually, while in the west the annual
averages are from 5 inches to 30 inches per annum, the latter being generally
experienced under the shadow of the coastal ranges.

Generally speaking, the tropical north experiences much heavier rainfall than
the south ; this fact influences the growth of timber to a considerable extent. Here
the forests sutler from periodical cyclonic visitations.

The climate is generally temperate, mean temperatures on the coast varying
from 52° to 78° in the winter and from 73° to 86° in the summer.

PART II.

Main Types of Forest Growth.

Summer rains and winter droughts, accompanied by excessive evaporation,
both differentiate the forestry problems of Qiieensland from those of the other States,
and at the same time give new character to the wooded vegetation.

In addition to extensive areas of more or less open hardwood, Queensland
possesses the most important softwood resources of the Commonwealth.

Between the two types of forest there exists a sharp line of demarcation.

The Softwood Forests. — This type, known in the vernacular as " scrub," occupies
the soils of high moisture content of the thirty to one hundred inch rainfall
belt fringing the long stretch of coast. It hugs the alluvial bottoms and the
rich volcanic highlands and is of patchy distribution. Actually a jungle type, the
density is high and the mixture ordinarily consists of a hundred various species,
the majority of which are small shade bearers of the lower storey, really medium
hardwoods. The natural standards of the type furnish the principal timbers of
Queensland.

There are several sub-types, the most considerable being the Araucaria mixture.

The Araucaria Sub-Type. — This sub-type is comparatively abundant in the
south-west corner of the State but rarely extends northwards of Gladstone. The
dominant species are " Hoo]) Pine" {Araucaria Cunninghamii) and Bunya "Pine"
(Araucaria Bidwilli). The natural stand varies between 10 to 20 trees per acre
in mixture with miscellaneous sorts. The biggest trees furnish up to 6,000 feet of
sawn timber. The timber is sold as Queensland Pine without, discrimination of
species, and furnishes the chief building wood of the State. It is the accepted timber
for butter boxes and is achieving favour as a plywood. Specimens of Hoop Pine
with from 10",, to 20°,, moisture gave weight 30-37-5; modulus of rupture 14,700-
9,750; crushing 8,480-6, 750.

Probably there are over 1,000,000 acres of this type in the State in patches
and the stand of mature timber of the species will measure between one and two

thousand million super feet, log measurement.

Associated trees are : —

Yellow wood {Flindersia Oxleyana),

Crow's Ash or Queensland Teak {Flindersia Australis),

White Ash {Flindersia Schaltiana),

all valuable hardwoods of 40-60 lbs. weight per cubic foot.

Others are White Beech {Omelina Leichardtii), perhaps the finest carving
Boftwood in Australia, now very rare ; Bally Gum {Litsea reticulata), second only to

While Beech for each of working and carving; Pink Poplar {Euroschinus fa lea tux)
a lighl soli wood, fairly plentiful, but not much used owing to seasoning difficulties,
and Crows Foot Elm. also plentiful, a "scrub" hardwood with an "Oak-grain,"
suitable for Staves and axe handles.

The Jungle sub-type.— As the moisture content increases the Araucarias are
displaced by the more robust moisture-loving species, among which the natural
orders Menace* and Laurinese are strongly represented. The trees achieve large
dimensions, and provide the more important of the cabinet woods. In the Killarney

scrubs " of the south-west corner the volcanic highlands support a limited .
of this sub-type, wind, here is composed of a mixture of such speci
Maple (Cryptocarya glaucescens), Silky Oak {Grevillea robusta, OriU md St* no-

carpus sahgna), Sassafras (Doryphora sassafras and Daphna
Mahogany {Synoum glandulosum and Dysoxylon Fraseranum md D. \lu<
Whitewood (Schizomeria ovata), &c.

In the North Queensland scrubs, the same factors ol heavy rainfall and rich
volcanic soil produce a similar profusion of valuable softwoods, and the chief of ■
Red Cedar, is now almost, cut out. Its successor in popular favour i- .Maple |
dersia Chatawaiana), of which live or ten years' supply remains. This i- a
well-grown tree, and the pink slightly aromatic softwood is shipped to th<
cabinet makers. It is one of the feu Australian timbers suitable tor rifle si
and aeroplane propellers.

Other important Northern woods are : —

Silk wood (Flindersia Mazlini).
Kauri (Agathis Palmer stoni).
Satinwood (Dysoxylon Pettigrewianum).
Silky Oak (Cardwellia sublimas).
Black Walnut (Cryptocarya Palmerstoni).
Yellow Walnut (Cryptocarya Bancrofti).
Bally Gum (Blepharocarya involucrigera).
Candlenut (Aleurites moluccana).
Black Bean (Castanospermum Australe).
Pencil Cedar (Lucuma galactoxylori).
Cairns Hickory {Flindersia Ifflaiana).

The Hardwood Forests. — The hardwood forests an- widespread, alternating with
the Araucaria forests of the moist south-eastern corner, and with the Cypress Pine
scrubs of the dry west. As the available moisture decreases, the forests become
more open, and more valuable species drop out and the yield per acre becomes low.
The forests are preponderating ly Eucalyptian, with some admixture of other
Myrtaceous and Leguminous species.

On the moist sands of Eraser [sland and the alluvial bottoms of the soutl •
corner, the association is one. of

Tallow-wood (Fuc. microcorys).

Blackbutt (Euc. pilularis).

Scrub Box (Tristania conferta).

Turpentine (Syncarpia l/illii). »

Flooded Gum (Euc. saligna).

Red Stringybark (Euc. tereticornis).

All these are useful building woods. .10 to 60 lbs. in weighl pei cubic foot.

On the drier ridges of the coast and near west.. Ironbark (1
crebra. F. siderophloia, Sec), and Spotted Gum (Euc. maculata) preponderate. I
are tin", valuable very hea\\ hardwoods (60 80 lbs.) used mi railway construction
and of these large quantities exist. Other plentiful species a'
punctata and F. propinqua) and Bloodwood (E. corymbosa). In the north. E
and Xanthostemons appear. In the drier west the Acacias replace tin- Eucalypts,

The Cypress Pint Forests. C\ press Pine (< 'allitris glauca) furnishes the doe •
timber of Western New South Wales and Queensland. It occurs either pure orunder
open Ironbark. and is found ehielh in the sandy belts of the dry west in a Jo 30-
inch rainfall. Droughts and fires have thinned these forests, and prickly pear in'
them to more or less degree. At the same time they afford a useful resoun
timber i> a coniferous hardwood, aromatic, but somewhat kuott\ and brittle. It i-
one of the tew species that can be grown under droughty condition-, and for that.
reason has an especial value to foresters.

PART III.

Area Covered by Existing Forests.

Table 1.

Statement showing the Total Area of Forest and the percentage of the Land Area covered

by Forest.

Forest.

Other _ . .
Land. Iotal-

Agricultural
Land.

Unprofitable
Merchantable.

inaccessible.

Total.

Square miles ... ...* 15,000

Percentage of total area . 2J

Ki.OOO 50,000 60,000
H 8i 12£

595,500 670,500

sT I 100

Approximate only — no satisfactory survey has been made ; only 1,250 square miles are under crop in Queensland,
or 0-17 per cent, of the total ana.

PART IV.

Notes on the Important Timbers.
Araucaria Cunninghamii — Hoop Pine.

This timber is the chief softwood of Queensland, and is universally used for all
inside purposes. It is excellent for joinery and cabinet purposes and staves, and it is
the accepted timber for butter boxes. In the railway workshops it is more used
than any other timber for sheeting, flooring, panelling, framing, and finishing of
carriages, and also for the decks of sheep trucks.

Specimens with from 10 to 20 per cent, moisture gave weight 30-37-5; modulus
of rupture 14,700-9,750; crushing 8,450-6,750.

Araucaria Bidwilli — Bunya Pine.

Occurs with hoop pine over a very restricted area between Gympie and Bunya
Mountains, but in much smaller quantities. It is cut and sold indiscriminately
with hoop pine, but is preferred for staves and building motor boats.

Specimens with 11-6 per cent, moisture gave weight 31-5-33-7 ; modulus of
rupture. 14.150-13.700: crushing 8,120-7,530.

Agathis Palmerstoni — Kauri Pine.

The timber is exported either in the log or in wide boards, and for local building
purposes is to the north what hoop pine is to the south. Like the hoop and Buyana
pines, it is very liable to attack»by borers if left lying in the scrub. In the railway
workshops it is well thought of for cabinet work, panelling, and framing, and. after
red cedar, is the most suitable wood for pattern making. Favoured also for building
ligb.1 boats.

Callitris Spp. — Cypress Pines.

The botanical determinations of species of this genus still form a subject for
debate. They occurred formerly in fairly large quantities in the dry south-western
districts, where, however, the effects of cutting, fire, grazing, drought, and prickly-
pear have rendered them comparatively scarce. Thej yielded the bulk of the timber
used iu the south-western districts, the wood being, perhaps, the most durable softwood
in the world and white-;s:it resistant.

Western cypress with 33-2-36 per i • at. moisture gave weight 50-5: modulus of
rupture 5,120 4,920; crushing 6,130-4,450.

Eucalyptus

paniculata
[ronbark.

Grey Lronbark; and Eucalyptus crebra — Narrow-leaved

Tiie\ are the most highly esteemed of all hardwoods for general building purposes
and are specially sought after by the railway department for all purposes where
great strength is required, such as girders, corbels, headstocks, etc., in bridge building

and sole bars and undernames for wagons and carriages. Preferred for spokes
naves, and shafts of heavy vehicles, and for piles and sleepers. Very durable.

Specimens with from 17-7 to 25-2 per cent, moisture gave weight 68-75-
modulus of rupture 20,500-14,000; crushing 12,200 to 9,400.

Average life of 2.050.000 sleepers, replaced during 18| years, was 22-!!:: y

Eucalyptus maculata — Spotted Gum.

Tiie pale brownish wood ranks second only to Grey [ronbark as regards strength,
and is similarly used, except in contact with the ground. The timber being of a
somewhat greasy nature is favoured for skidding.

Specimens with 18-4-30-3 per cent, moisture gave weight 65-7-76-1- modulus
of rupture 20.500-13.600; crushing 11.250-9,000.

Average life of 77,000 sleepers, replaced during IN' years, was 17-41 years.

Eucalypti/.* in icrocorys — Tallow-wood.

The yellowish somewhat greasy timber is of excellent quality, particularly
for all purposes exposed to weather, and is specially in request, for sleepers and veranda
posts and flooring. In the railway workshops it is used for pillars of covered wagons
and for wagon sheeting. Very durable.

Specimens with 14-54 per cent, moisture gave weight 5S-75 ; modulus of rupture
18,200-9,900; crushing 10,500-6,800.

Average life of 11,000 sleepers, replaced during 18.1 years, was 17-52 years.

Eucapyltus Pilularis — Blackbutt.

The light greyish wood is an extremely useful general building timber, and in the
railway workshops is used for wagon sheeting ; being very straight in the grain,
it is much sought after for splitting into rails and palings; somewhat subject to
gum veins.

Specimens with 20-55-7 per cent, moisture gave weighl 56-71; modulus of
rupture 16,200-12,000; crushing 10,450-6,300.

Average life of 11,000 sleepers, replaced during 1S.I years, was 15*81 years.

Eucalyptus propinqua — Grey Gum.

The red wood is of very fine quality, and is much favoured when logs are
reasonably sound. Useful for general building purposes and sleepers. Very durable.

Specimens with 21-8-35-7 per cent, moisture gave weight 7(>- 1-74-4 : modulus
of rupture 19,700-14,60(1; crushing 11,000-6,800.

Average life of 19,500 sleepers, replaced during ls.l years, was 13 years.

Eucalyptus resinifera — Red St ringybark.

The straight-grained red wood is one of the most popular hardwoods for house
building, particularly for weather boards ; used also for wagon sheeting. Rather
subject to pinhole borers.

Specimens with 27-8-46 per cent, moisture gave weighl 63*4-72*2; modulus of
rupture 20,300-13,800 ; crushing 10,600-8,200.

Average life of 193,000 sleepers, replaced during Is' years, was 17-95.

Eucalyptus acmenioides Yellow Stringybark.

Wood, yellowish, CUl and sold with other hardwoods for general pur]
but not specified for particular uses.

Specimens with 27-3-47-7 per cent, moisture gave weight 63*4— 71-8; modulus
of rupture 14,000 9,000; crushing 8,850 7. loo.

Average, life- of 1 1,500 sleepers, replaced during ls.l years was, 13*83 years.

Eucalyptus corymbosa Red Bloodwood.

Perhaps the most widely spread Eucalyptus in Queensland, reaching its
development on the south coast.

Wood, deep red, particularly subject to veins, on account of which it is rarely,
if ever. sawn. Highly esteemed for fencing, house stumps, and sleepers, being the
durable hardwood in Queensland, but its life as a sleeper is diminished by its
tendency to shell off along the veins.

Specimens with 20-53 per cent, moisture gave weight 55-3-73 -3; modulus of
rupture 23,200-9,700 ; crushing 12,300-7,100.

Average life of 128,500 sleepers, replaced during 18| years, was 17-06 years.

Syncarpia laurifolia — Turpentine.

The pinkish brown wood is, for a hardwood, comparatively light and easy to work,
and of great durability. On account of its large shrinkage and tendency to warp
in -mall sizes, it is not favoured by sawmiilers, but is very suitable for decking of
wharves and for large beams — it being very fire-resistant ; used for sleepers and
for fender piles of wharves, but deserving generally of far greater attention than it
has yet received. In the railway workshops it is cut for wagon sheeting and pillars.

Specimens with 27-43-4 per cent, moisture gave weight 63-4-68 ; modulus of
rupture 15,600-8,600 ; crushing 9,990-7,480.

Average life of 29,000 sleepers, replaced during ISA years, was 19-60 years.

Tristan ia conferta — Scrub Box.

Abundant on the south coast and on Eraser Island where it is probably more
plentiful than any other species of this order.

Though very durable and used largely in New South Wales, it rarely is sawn in
Queensland, probably owing to its tendency to warp in small sizes.

Cedrela australis — Red Cedar.

The wood, of a deep red colour, is light, soft, easily worked, and aromatic, and
extremely durable when exposed to the weather. It is the most valuable cabinet
and decorative Avood in Australia. Largely used for the construction of racing
boats, and when comparatively plentiful and cheap was preferred to all other woods
for pattern-making.

Specimens with 12 per cent, moisture gave weight 33-5 ; modulus of rupture
11,500; crushing 6,600.

Flindersia australis — Crow's Ash.

A hard, oily, yellowish brown wood, of great durability, used chiefly for flooring
ballrooms, skating rinks, and verandas, and for sheeting of railway wagons ;
suitable for staves, handles of tools, and bearings.

Green specimens with an unrecorded percentage of moisture gave weight
58-3-61-7 ; modulus of rupture 13,300-15,800; crushing 6,800-7,600.

Flindersia Chatawaiana — Red Beech or Maple.

The pink slightly aromatic timber is used in the north for general building
purposes, such as weather boards, chamfer boards and studding plates, but is
chiefly shipped south as a very valuable cabinet wood — now the most popular in
South Queensland. Suitable for rifle stocks, airship propellers, and boat building,
and used in railway carriage construction for pillars, framework, moulding, panels
and general furnishings. The most suitable wood for wheels of railway trk^cles.
A very fair bending timber.

Dysoxylon Fraseranum — Rosewood.

A red, fragrant wood, extremely durable and of great beauty for cabinet purposes
u lien cut tangent iallv.

( ardwellia sublimis — Bull Oak, Brown Oak, Silky Oak.

This wood is now the common " Silky Oak" of the trade, and is used largely
for cabinet work. In t lie north it is used for staves and for general building purposes,
especially in the Innisfail district, where it is cut into scantlings, weather boards,
chamfer boards, studding, lining hoards. &c. it is a good timber for bending into
■ •.Ms of vehicles, and is in general use in railway carriage construction for bent
roof sticks, mouldings, framework, and panelling. Air dry weight about 38.

reticulata and ferruginea — Bally Gum {Laura
Useful for all inside work, stave-, and boat building. The wood is light and
very soft, and is second only to While Beech for ease of working and carving; an
excellent cabinet timber.

linens with 17-4 per cent, moisture gave weight 35-5; modulus ■
11,150-9,850; crushing 6,100-5,200.

Blopharocarya involucrigera — Northern Bally Cum (Sapindacei

A light, soft, pink timber, rather woolly but quite suitable for inside work.
Is used largely for staves, chiefly on account of its comparative cheapness. Air
drj weight aboul 46.

Cryptocarya Palmerstoni — Black Walnut (Lauracea

Wood, rich brown, moderately hard and heavy, of great beauty. Turns well
and takes a fine polish, but is disliked by sawmillers owing to its injurious effed on
the saws. Air dry weight about 4:>.

Tarrietia argyrodendron — Crow's Foot Elm (Sterculiacea ).

The brownish wood is straight-grained and beautifully marked when cu1 on
the quarter, and should find a use for cabinet purposes and the panelling of h<
and railway carriages. It was selected by an American tool manufacturing firm from
a secies of samples comprising Black Bean, Red Bean, and lied Cedar, as the most
suitable for turning into handles for combination tools.

It is not durable when exposed to weather, and becomes fairly hard when dry.
When green it is tough and very elastic, but is said to become brittle when dry.
though axe handles turned from this wood and preserved in the Forests Office for
over seven years show no signs of brittleness. The southern variety was once used
for staves, when it was commonly known as stavewood.

Specimens of the variety trifoliolata with. 18-2 per cent, moisture gave weight
61-2-62-4; modulus of rupture 14.000-16.800 ; crushing 18,900-10,500 ; but the
air dry weight of an office specimen of peralata was only 51.

Castanospermum australe — Black Bean {Leguminosce).

Wood of a rich dark brown with light streaks, only moderately hard and heavy,
and very durable. Formerly used in the north largely for house-building and
fencing, but much too valuable for such purposes. An excellent cabinet wood of
great beauty, used for framing, moulding, and panelling of railway carriages. Air
dry weight about 46.

PART V.

Ownership of Fobests.

Table II.

Classification of the Forest Area by Ownership.

Square miles

Percentage of total forest
area

Area belonging to.

Dedicated to

Timber Othci

Corporate

Individuals.

Prodis

6,250

16,875

53,125

9,375

1 2 500

orest

10

7.">

85

15

leu

Xote. The areas owned by corporate bodies and private individuals are forests in pi

men, | esand not for forestry I hej supply at present 74 ',. oi the total timber cut for tt

10

PART VI.
The Relationship of the State to the Forests.
f).\. The forestry legislation of Queensland has been enacted under two measures :

1. " The State Forests and National Parks Act of 1906."

2. " The Land Act of 1910."

and by means of regulations under both enactments.

The Stall Forests and National Parks Act provides mainly for the establishment
of Stale Forests and National Parks, i.e., permanent forestry reservations which may
not be interfered with except by authority of an Act of Parliament. Special
provision was made in the Act for the granting of Special Leases and Occupation
Licenses under the Lands Act over State Forests and National Parks ; and the
mining laws are not affected by the Act. The Act also authorises the making of
Regulations to administer the State Forests and National Parks.

Regulations under State Forests and National Parks Act.
The regulations made under this Act provided for :

1. The control of the State Forests and National Parks by the Director
of Forests.

2. The making of working plans in respect thereof.

3. The methods by which timber and forest produce were to be sold
therefrom.

4. The prevention of illegal acts in connection therewith, i.e., trespass,
cutting timber without authority, defacement of brands, marks, &c,
careless use of fire, &c, &c.

5. The authorities of forest officers to prosecute in respect of forest offences
on State Forests and National Parks.

and other minor provisions.

" Land Act of 1910."

" The Land Act of 1910," a statute governing the leasing, sale, and administration
of Crown Lands generally, contains provisions relating to the removal of timber
from Reserves (temporar}7 reservations Crown Lands, i.e., land not lawfully granted,
or contracted to be granted in fee simple ; or not reserved or dedicated for stated
public purposes) and certain leases.

Selectors of certain selections are given timber rights commensurate with the
securit}r and purpose of their land tenure.

The Act provides for making of regulations to govern sale of timber on Timber
Reserves and Crown Lands, and affords authority of entry on lands to officers.

" The Timber and Quarry Regulations."

The Timber and Quarry Regulations of 1912 set forth : —

1. The procedure by which timber is to be sold from Crown Lands, and
Reserves.

2. The minimum prices and sizes at which timber and forest produce is
to be sold.

3. The conditions pertaining to removal of quarry material.

4. Requirements to be observed by purchasers and persons handling
Crown timber, &c.

5. Conditions under which animals used in forest work may be depastured,
and other minor provisions re legal proceedings, &c.

An Act is to be brought before Parliament at an early date to afford a greater
measure of control of the estate to the Forest Service.

6b. At the present time in Queensland the Forest Service is not fully developed.
The limited staff cannot deal with the large area of country involved, and the
operations are necessarily confined to the more closely settled areas, contiguous to
the chief markets.

II

Forest Stations have been established on a number of the more accessible

ES^'nf?^8?**^ -een Pr°vi^f°r officers in charge of operations, and the
housing of the staff is being proceeded with.

St Protection.

., On.tllose areas at present under treatment, the forest staff deals with fires as
they arise. A system of road firebreaks is being established, and these, coupled
with supervision, are found to be effective in checking forest fii dly Fire

protection clauses are inserted in timber sale agreements and licenses wherever
necessary. Ihe new Act will make provision for greater power of the Forest Service
in dcanng with the fire question in demanding aid of forest and neighbouring settlers
and of timber-getters and timber workers on the forest.

Nurseries and Plantations.

Forest nurseries have been established in the several main districts and the
propagation oi tndigenous and exotic plants is being carried forward as quickly as
P">sibie. Nurseries now in existence cover about 3 acres of ground.

Experimental planting is also being undertaken, chiefly of Hoop and BunyaPine
(Araucana species). An area of about 320 acres is under 'plantation at the present
time, and the work is being undertaken more extensively during the current year.

Treatment of the present stand for the improvement of natural regeneration
is also being proceeded with experimentally.

Forest Organisation— Roads and Tramways.

Good progress is being made with survey of forest road systems and the
construction of forest roads.

Tramway projects are also being initiated in several localitii
Water Supply.

Water is being provided on some of the drier reserves by moans of sub-artesian
bores, ranks, dams. &c. Where water is available pumping plants are being installed
in several places for nursery and domestic use.

Timber Trading.

The Forest Service activity has extended to timber harvesting and marketing
and during the past year it has logged and sold depart mentally some 8,001
square feet of timber. Sales on the stump bring the total annual cut on Crown f< .rests
to about 60,000,000 square feet. log measurement,

6c. Assistant to private forestry.

No private forestry exists, and so long as funds for State Forestry are limited
subsidies on this account are inadmissible.

PART VII.

Tu e Fobest Authority .

The Foresl Service of Queensland, as at present constituted, is merely a branch
of the Department of Public Lam's. |, has this measure of autonomy, however
that under the State i rid National Parks Act, the Du

responsible to the Minister Eoj the management and control

tions. In other cases the bands Department bas a c< lie leasing

of the timber reserves and of the reservation of Crown band- for fori
n advice, however, is invariably sought on ti

Owing to the limited forestry staff a large portion of the - --ill supen

by Lands Department officers only partly responsible to the Director of Foi

The Forest personnel consists of the Director of F< whom the District

Forester a,, responsible. Each District Forester, as the name signifies, h
of a separate district, and may control Deputy Foresters under the i

12

branches of Sylviculture, Sales and Engineering, Forest Factors, Forest Rangers
and Forest Guards, Forest Overseers and Foremen in charge of Reserves and working
gangs and their staffs, and of Cadet Foresters, placed within his District for training.
Each District Officer has necessary clerical assistance to enable him to carry out the
uniform system of accounting and cost keeping, and the vertical filing of records.

A Forest Engineer is to be appointed shortly to take charge of the Engineering
Branch of the Forest Service.

A Forest School is being built at Imhil in Southern Queensland, and an Instructor
and Assistant are to be appointed. Short courses will then be arranged for officers
at present in the Service, and a system of training of new entrants put into operation.

Education methods now being adopted are : —

1. The distribution of publications from the forest library to all aspirants
to forestry knowledge, and

2. A generous circularisation among the personnel of items of forestry
information and interest and of salient points from recognised works on
forestry.

The system in force of compiling information has been found of great use in
this regard.

Each year the Director of Forests furnishes his Annual Report to Parliament.
This report covers the main activities of the Service.

Publications have been issued as under : —

" The Structure and Identification of Queensland Woods.'"

" Notes on the Principal Timbers of Queensland."

" Sylvicultural Notes on Forest Trees of Queensland."

" Australian Study of American Forestry."

" Financing of Forestry."

" Federal or State Forestry— Which ? "

" Forestry in Queensland."

" The Australian Forest Ration and its Apportionment."

Following is a statement of revenue and expenditure during the past fifteen
years : —

Year. Expenditure.

Revenue.

1904

1905

1906

1907

1908

1909

1910

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915

1916

1917

1918

£

837

712

1,331

1,549

2,132
2,448
2,548
2,930
5,397
7,386
7,653
7,416
9,473
13,930
21,877

£

11,441
11,577
14,560
22,236
27,979
35,200
39,645
53,840
63,447
62,973
74,729
69,793
60,401
66,200
71,481

£87,619

£685,502

PART VIII.

Forestry Activities of Municipal and Corporate Bodies.
Private or municipal forestry is not yet practised in Queensland.

13

PART IX.

Professional and other Societies [interested in Forestry.

There are no such Societies except those such as the Brisbane Timber Merchants'
Association (Creek Street. Brisbane), interested in the marketing of timber.

PART X.
Education, Research and Experimental Work.

A Foresl School of Forestry and Institute of Sylviculti '•■.

the site to be at Imbil, Mary Valley Line. Queensland.

Sylvicultural research and experiment are being carried oul
Forest Stations.

The work at the Forest Service Office in Brisbane includes studies in wood
technology and classification, and. a small Timber Museum exists. Timber exhibits
are prepared for display at local and foreign exhibitions.

PART XL
Annual Increment and Utilisation of Home-grows T]

Table III.
j I //,•■ ual Inert rrn nt.

Area
Square

Miles.

increment

per

Square

Mile.

incn n

-
i

Under State
control ...
Other

10,000
1,000

S. It.

32,1100
32,000

s. ft.

320. i

32,000,000

s. tt.

80, ,000

8, ,000

s. ft.

160 000,1

16,000,000

240,000,

24,0

s. ft.

80,000, i

8, ,000

Total

[].

32,1

352,000,000

88,000,000

176,000,000

264,00

s^

Table IV.
. ! nnual Utilisation.

State Control.

Type of Product.

T\ pi

luct.

Value at place
<>f prepa

Type of
Product.

Value at place
.ration.

Milling timb

Railway timbers

.Mining timl

1 elegraph poles, &c. ...
Post rails. &c. ...

,,,

4,000,000
750,000

350,

125,

25,000

(

72,000

6,750

3,250

1 ,251 1

300

2 750

•"

200

12, 0

800,

:;

200,1
150,000

216

7,000

3,

i'

1,000

0,000

13,450,000

Fuel

Sandalwood

Tan and foam barks, &C.

45,000 tons
500 ,.
100 ..

2

13,0

-

14

PART XII.

Forest Industries.

In 1918 the saw milling industry absorbed 15,000,000 cubic feet of timber;
of this 9,000,000 cubic feet was Pine, 30,000 cubic feet Cedar, and the balance Hard-
woods. The value of this cut was £1,340,000, and approximately 3,500 hands were
engaged in its manufacture.

Considerable employment is also afforded in log getting, railway, mining and
pole timber getting. It is estimated that about 1,500 to 2,000 persons are engaged
in these activities.

No figures are available to show the quantity of timber cut on private lands.
A close approximation is available in respect of milling timber, and indicates that
the private cut is three times that of the Crown, due to the fact that in past times
vast alienations of timber land have been made, and these are being cut into regardless
of the future.

Fuel and fencing operations are extensive, and provide employment for a large
number of persons, while about 100 are engaged in the getting of sandalwood, guano,
and cupania and mangrove bark. No definite figures are available, however, of
value of the products obtained.

A pulp mill was erected at Yarraman for the purpose of making paper pulp
from the tops of Hoop and Bunya Pine (Araucaria sp.). Operations were ceased in
the latter part of 1919, owing mainly to water difficulties.

For volume of timber consumed in various industries, see Table IV.
information is available.

No other

PART XIII.

Statistics as to Exports and Imports of Timber.

Table VI.

Average Annual Imports and Exports.

I ■., |. ! 1 1 1 Product.

Exports.

Quantity. Value, f.o.b.

£
Queensland softwoods ... 2,000,000 500,000
American hickory ... 6y000 l>500

Imports.

Quantity. Value, c.i.f.

Balance, plus or minus
(+or-).

Quantity

(col. 2 -

col. 4).

Value

(col. :$ -
col. 5.)

C. ft.

1,994,000 i 498,500

Note. — Most of the exports from Queensland are to the other States.

The imports shown are from overseas to Queensland. There is no interstate timber imported.

15
PART XIV.

MM MARY AND Ol'TLOOK.

Table VII.

Product.

1 Ftilisation.

Table IV,

Col. 3.

Exports.

Table VI,

Col. i.

Home

consumption

of Home-

Imports.

grown

Table \ 1

timb i

( .,1 l

Col 2

l .,1. 3.-

mption

of I [l

and

Table 111,

Tim .

•

Col. t plus

c. ft.

c. ft.

17,606 M

7,333 M

minus,

All cla

19,600 M 2,000 M 17,600 M

6 M

Total per head of
population

2-86

2514

■in

10-48

1 1-6

Note. — Population of Queensland, 700,000.

14c. Short Summary of steps which should bt taken, &c.

The reason for the apparent serious overcutting taking place in Queensland
is the operation by private landholders who are all realising timber values immedi
with no thought for the future.

As these private resources become cut out, operators will be forced to go further
afield on Crown Lands in search of timber.

With increased utilisation under forestry management the amounts lost by
waste, decay, fire, &c, will be reduced considerably, and the net increment of the
Queensland forests enhanced as much.

The position is, however, that the immediately prospective resource of timber
is barely sufficient to meet requirements at the present rate much less to meel
increased demand the future must hold.

The necessary steps to be taken are : —

1. Permanent dedication of not less than 6,000,000 acres Pine forest.

2. Construction of an independent Forest Service free from political control.
in so far as technique and trade are concerned.

3. The provision of adequate funds for forest development purposes.

16

APPENDICES.

Appendix A.

No Commissions have reported cm forestry and forest questions in Queensland.

Appendix B.

" Mat. Forests and National Parks Act, 1906," and Regulations ; " Lands Act, 1910," and "Timber
and Quarry Regulations."

Appendix C.

Annual Report of Director of Forests.

" Australian Study of American Forestry."

" The Structure and Identification of Queensland Woods."

" Notes on the Principal Timbers of Queensland."

I'inancing of Forestry."
" Federal or State Forestry — Which ? "
" Forestry in Queensland."
" The Australian Forest Ration and its Apportionment."

Appendix D.

No forestry literature is issued in Queensland other than by the Forest Service.

or use in

ig ONLY

sr

SO S3

a

KpCp
1 XCfOW

rved"

Loan