Durable eucalypt timbers are hard, strong and naturally resistant to decay, so can be used without any chemical treatment – and Gippsland farmland has emerged as a key region to grow this valuable timber. The importance of this trend has been underlined by the state government’s decision on the native forest industry, the traditional source of durable hardwoods. Of Australia’s approximate 900,000 hectares of eucalyptus plantations, less than five per cent have a natural durability ratings of Class 1 and 2 (above-ground). Enter Heartwood Unlimited, founded in 1995 – a boutique management company based in Gippsland that researches, plants and harvests native durable hardwoods. It manages about 2000 hectares of plantations … and is probably the largest grower of such timbers in Victoria. Heartwood is driving a new plantation model that encompasses genetics, silviculture, harvesting, nutrition, biodiversity and agroforestry.