Reclaimed Australian Timbers, Responsibly Harvested from Lake Pieman
Below the waters of Lake Pieman on Tasmania’s west coast lies a treasure hidden for almost 40 years. An ancient forest lost to the deep, dark waters. Lost, that is, until today.
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Each piece of Hydrowood timber tells a story of Australian ingenuity and sustainability. Harvested using world-first underwater logging technology, these timbers are FSC® and PEFC™ certified, making them ideal for designers, architects, furniture makers and builders who value responsible wood and exceptional quality.
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From boards, trims and mouldings to decorative veneers, figured and craft timbers, joinery and fabricated products, and seasoned timber every Hydrowood product reflects the same dedication to quality and environmental integrity.
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These products are available through leading distributors across Australia, including Bowens in Victoria, and are supplied nationally to specifiers, builders and architects seeking sustainable wood that blends history, beauty and environmental integrity.
Chat with our team to find the right Hydrowood solution for your project.
Hydrowood is one of Australia’s most innovative producers of sustainable timber, renowned for recovering and re-milling rare Australian timbers from the depths of Tasmania’s Lake Pieman.
Since 2015, we have been bringing back some of Australia’s most sought-after species, including Celery Top Pine, Blackwood, Myrtle, Huon Pine and Sassafras, responsibly reclaimed from a submerged forest.
Our Origins: From Idea to Innovation
Our story began with a simple question: what if the forests lost beneath Tasmania’s hydro-electric lakes could live again?
When co-founder David Wise first flew his Cessna over Lake Pieman, he couldn’t have imagined the treasure hidden below: vast stands of ancient Tasmanian rainforest preserved in time. Together with Andrew Morgan, he set out to recover this lost resource, designing custom machinery capable of harvesting trees from depths of up to 26 metres, a world first in underwater forestry.
The result was a groundbreaking model of sustainable timber recovery, rescuing rare native species from decay and setting a new benchmark for responsible wood production.
The History Beneath the Surface: From Lake Pieman to Lifestyle
When Tasmania’s Pieman River was dammed in the 1980s to create Lake Pieman, thousands of hectares of pristine temperate rainforest were flooded, locking away vast stands of unique Tasmanian timber. Preserved for decades beneath cool, oxygen-poor water, these timbers remained straight, stable and remarkably intact.
Today, our innovative recovery process brings this hidden forest back to life, transforming it into high-quality, kiln-dried timber used in stunning homes, furniture and architectural spaces across Australia. Designers and builders choose Hydrowood for its beauty, strength and sustainability. It’s timber that tells a story and adds depth, warmth and meaning to every project.