Iconic Red Character for Premium Pieces
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) grows only in the south-west corner of Western Australia. Its heartwood is famous for colour — fresh salmon-pink to brick-red tones deepening over time into rich burgundy and mahogany — contrasting with a paler sapwood. The grain is usually straight but often interlocked or wavy, sometimes producing a sought-after fiddleback figure, with a moderately coarse, even texture and occasional gum veins and dark flecks that add character. Jarrah is dense and hard, with a Janka hardness around 8.5 kN and a density near 820 kg/m³, giving furniture and benchtops real substance and wear resistance. It glues well and finishes to a rich lustre, though its interlocked grain means sharp tooling helps. As of 1 January 2024, commercial native logging ended in WA, so today’s Jarrah is supplied largely from recycled and salvaged stock — limited, premium and full of character. The sapwood is lyctid-susceptible.
Why Choose Jarrah Joinery Hardwood
Technical Specifications
Botanical name
Eucalyptus marginata
Colour
Salmon/brick-red maturing to deep burgundy and mahogany; paler sapwood
Janka hardness
approx. 8.5 kN
Density (seasoned)
approx. 820 kg/m³
Durability/use
Class 2 above ground; premium interior & finished exterior joinery
Supply
Largely recycled/salvaged (WA native harvesting ended Jan 2024)
Workability
Glues & finishes well; interlocked grain — sharp tooling helps
Borer
Durable heartwood; sapwood lyctid-susceptible
Typical joinery uses
Furniture, cabinetry, feature joinery, benchtops
Where Jarrah Joinery Hardwood Performs Best
Premium and heirloom furniture — tables, cabinets and bespoke pieces.
Feature cabinetry where deep red colour is the centrepiece.
Solid-timber benchtops and bar tops with rich character.
Feature joinery, panelling and architectural detailing.
Heritage and restoration work using recycled Jarrah.
Finished, maintained exterior joinery elements.
Grades, Selection & Movement
Jarrah can be supplied in different grades to suit the look you are after — cleaner, lower-feature selections for a calm, uniform appearance, or character grades that showcase the natural colour variation, grain and markings that make the timber distinctive. Because timber is a natural product, every board is unique, so for visible work it pays to lay boards out and select and arrange them for colour and grain before machining, composing the piece so that tops, doors and panels read the way you intend. We can supply to your preferred grade and, where possible, provide a sample so you know what to expect. Timber movement is the other key consideration in joinery. Jarrah should be allowed to acclimatise to the conditions of the room or workshop where it will live before it is machined and assembled, so that it reaches a stable moisture content first. Design and detail joints, frames and panels to accommodate the small seasonal movement that all solid timber undergoes, and finish all faces and edges — including undersides and backs — so moisture is taken up and released evenly and components stay flat and true. These simple habits are the difference between joinery that lasts and joinery that twists or splits. Finally, store and handle Jarrah well before and during the build. Keep boards flat, evenly supported and off the floor in a dry, well-ventilated space out of direct sun, and protect machined components and finished surfaces from knocks and moisture until installation. A little care in storage keeps the timber straight and the finished joinery looking its best.
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Working With and Finishing Jarrah
Jarrah is dense with an often interlocked grain, so let it acclimatise, work with sharp tooling and pre-drill near ends to prevent splitting. Recycled Jarrah should be checked for old fixings and de-nailed before machining. It glues well; clamp and detail joints to suit a dense, characterful hardwood. Jarrah finishes to a rich, warm lustre — oils and clear coatings bring its red tones and figure to life, and a UV-stabilised finish helps preserve the colour where light exposure is high. Finish all faces and edges to balance moisture movement and keep tops and panels stable. Recycled Jarrah may carry surface patina from its previous life — part of its appeal — and benefits from light preparation before finishing.
Get Your Free QuoteSustainable & Ethically Sourced
Jarrah is now sourced largely from recycled, salvaged and salvage-thinning stock following the end of WA commercial native harvesting, making it one of the most environmentally responsible premium joinery hardwoods available. JVS Timber supplies Jarrah compliant with Australian industry standards; choosing a recycled, durable timber for pieces built to last is a genuinely sustainable decision. Availability is limited, so confirm stock early.
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Jarrah Sizes & Availability
JVS Timber supplies Jarrah joinery hardwood dressed all round (DAR), sawn and in selected profiles, drawn largely from recycled and salvaged stock, in a range of sections and lengths. Because supply is now limited and in demand, we recommend confirming availability early so we can reserve, prepare and schedule delivery Australia-wide. Tell us your sections, grade and quantity and we will confirm current stock and competitive trade pricing.
Get Your Free QuoteJarrah Joinery Hardwood — Frequently Asked Questions
Commercial native-forest logging in Western Australia ended on 1 January 2024, so new-growth Jarrah is no longer generally available. Today’s Jarrah comes largely from recycled and salvaged sources — sustainable and full of character, though supply is more limited.