River Red Gums (Eucalyptus Camaldulensis) are unique to the Australian bush and grow along the waterways. They propagate when floodwaters run high and can live up to 700 years or more. A unique feature of River Red Gums is that they drop their limbs in times of drought to conserve water. The hollows created by the falling of the limbs are ideal homes to a host of wildlife, making the River Red Gum a magical eco-system along the inland waterways of the Australian bush.
River Red Gum is a hardwood, and in the past was used mainly for construction work and railway sleepers. Recently, after new techniques in drying were developed, it has become a highly valued timber for fine woodworking. Depending on soil conditions, it varies in color from a light pinkish red to a dark red in some very old trees. River Red Gum is one of the main sources of burls, which can be striking, with natural fissures and bold figuring. When used in the lid of a box they speak of the once untamed rivers and floodplains of Australia, evoking a sense of timelessness and endurance.