Description
Exceptional Mulga Slab – Australia’s Desert Iron
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Dimensions: 1700mm length x 180-200mm width x 30mm thickness
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Deep Reddish-Brown Heartwood with Fine Texture
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Extremely Dense & Durable Desert Hardwood
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Rich Cultural Heritage & Traditional Significance
This outstanding mulga slab represents one of Australia’s most remarkable hardwoods – a tree that survives and thrives in the harshest desert conditions. The rich reddish-brown heartwood with its fine, even texture displays the density and character that has made mulga legendary among craftspeople and Aboriginal toolmakers for thousands of years.
Exceptional Features:
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Extreme Density – 1100-1200 kg/m³, among Australia’s heaviest hardwoods
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Legendary Hardness – Janka rating of 11.0-13.0 kN, requiring specialized tools
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Exceptional Durability – Naturally resistant to termites, decay, and harsh weather
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Cultural Significance – Traditional Aboriginal timber for weapons, tools, and shields
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Desert Survivor – From trees that can live 200-300 years in extreme arid conditions
Perfect Applications:
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Fine woodworking and craft projects
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Tool handles and specialty implements
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Decorative items and turned objects
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Musical instrument components
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Artistic carvings and sculptures
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Collector-grade woodworking pieces
The Mulga Story:
Mulga derives its name from the Aboriginal word for shields made from this incredibly hard wood. Growing in Australia’s most arid regions with as little as 200mm annual rainfall, mulga trees develop extraordinary density and strength as they slowly mature over centuries. The wood was so prized by Indigenous Australians that they used it for spear-throwers, boomerangs, digging sticks, and weapons.
Technical Excellence:
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Ultra-Dense Hardwood – Specific gravity of 1.1-1.4, heavier than water
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Exceptional Finish – Polishes to a deep, lustrous red-brown surface
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Extremely Stable – Minimal movement once properly seasoned
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Challenging to Work – Requires sharp tools but rewards skilled craftspeople
Rare & Valuable:
Mulga timber is increasingly rare in commercial quantities due to the tree’s slow growth and limited size. Most mulga trees are small shrubs, making slabs of this quality exceptionally uncommon. This piece represents access to one of Australia’s most culturally significant and technically challenging timbers.
Working Notes:
This extremely dense hardwood will dull cutting tools quickly and requires patience to work, but the results are spectacular. The wood turns beautifully and develops a rich patina that only improves with age. Its natural oils provide inherent preservation properties.
Investment Value:
Premium mulga slabs are highly sought after by collectors and craftspeople who appreciate both the technical challenge and cultural significance of this remarkable timber. Each piece connects the maker to thousands of years of Australian heritage while providing access to one of the continent’s most extraordinary woods.
This professionally prepared slab offers the serious woodworker a rare opportunity to work with Australia’s legendary desert hardwood – perfect for creating heirloom pieces with both beauty and cultural depth.
Collection available from Mulgrave, NSW – A rare piece of Australia’s outback heritage, perfect for the discerning craftsperson seeking the ultimate challenge.
This listing is for one unique slab only. Each piece is one-of-a-kind and cannot be replicated once sold. Browse our extensive slab collection or contact us to explore alternative options that suit your project needs
