Pioneering Sustainable Australian Timbers

Hydrowood is one of Australia’s most innovative producers of reclaimed timber, renowned for recovering and reviving 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.

 
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From lakE to lifestyle

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. 

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. 

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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.  

 
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