Australian Wood Review - June 2018

I

n the 1980s, the wet tropics of

Queensland were placed on the

World Heritage List, and harvesting

and milling of specialty species in

those regions virtually ceased.

‘Going forward from here’, said Curly

Tatnell, 68 and director of leading

Queensland based hardwood timber

millers Dale and Meyers, ‘makers will

again be able to buy quantities of red

cedar, silky oak, or Qld silver ash.

Curly Tatnell has been involved in

businesses around Maryborough all

of his life. From farming, developing

and construction to grazing,

transport and tile manufacturing,

his experience is diverse. Around

18 years ago he was offered a share

in Dale and Meyers, and since taking

on the role of director, sawmilling

has occupied much of his time.

With some 220 people employed in

various capacities, Dale and Meyers

supply power poles and cross arms

to electrical utilities throughout

Australia and overseas. They also

produce decking and flooring, and

use laminating and finger jointing

processes to manufacture products

that ensure maximum recovery from

sawn timber and mill waste.

Two years in, Branch 95 is an initiative

of Dale and Meyers that focuses

on the sustainable harvesting of

76 Australian Wood Review

TIMBER

Native Timbers Are Back

Two years of groundwork have opened the way for limited but

ongoing supply of northern Queensland specialty species.