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Cnr Phoenix & Sudlow Roads
PO Box 1033
Bibra Lake WA 6163
Ph: +61 8 9434 3318
Fx: +61 8 9434 3298
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Australian Sandalwood
The History of Sandalwood
Sandalwood is the world’s most valuable commercial timber.
Sandalwood has known to be used by different civilisations for over 3,000 years. Up until the start of the 19th century no one knew there was sandalwood in the Pacific and Australia. Trading Houses were desperate to find a commodity to trade with China for the growing demand for tea in Europe and particularly England. There was a serious imbalance in trade. In 1811-19 the total value of goods imported by the East India Company to England from China was over 72 million pounds. Tea accounted for over 70 million pounds. In the 1800s, traded sandalwood was sourced mainly from India and was labelled “Old Mountain” by the Chinese.
When the first shipment of 4 tonnes of WA sandalwood was exported to Singapore by WA settlers in 1844, it became globally recognised as a valuable commodity and thus became known as “New Mountain”. This first shipment saw the birth of the “New Mountain” Sandalwood industry. This shipment received $20 per tonne.
In the 19th century Sandalwood was Western Australia’s second largest export. In 1882 the colony exported 9605 tonnes and earned $192,000. In 1920 a total of 13,945 tonnes were export at a value of $467,000. |
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The Wood of the Gods
Sandalwood is a fragrant timber and its distinctive aroma comes from oil contained in the heartwood.
In Australia, we have many species of Santalum (sandalwood). There are two main ones that are harvested. Santalum lanceolatum which grows throughout Australia except Tasmania and southern Victoria and Santalum spicatum which grows in Western Australia.
Santalum spicatum is a desert tree and as a result is much slower growing. The oil has a different, less heady aroma and has become the preferred wood for incense manufacturing across Asia. It is a big part of the Asian
culture and the wood is commonly used to make joss sticks for the incense trade. India alone consumes 500 million incense (argabatti) sticks per day.
Internationally sandalwood has been one of the most valued woods for centuries, prized for its oil and burning properties as well as its medicinal characteristics. Sandalwood oil is essential in the make up of all perfumes, soaps and cosmetics. Approximately150 tonnes of santalum perfume is produced per annum worldwide.
Sustainability of a valuable resource
The sandalwood tree is a parasite. It needs nutrients and water from host plants to survive. Growth is very slow for the sandalwood tree but becomes higher in oil yield as it gets older. A sandalwood tree growing in the arid can take 100 years before it can be harvested. The tree is harvested as either green wood or dead wood.
Value of Sandalwood
Realising the value of this precious commodity and the need to sustain it, the Western Australian government introduced the Sandalwood Act in 1929 which strictly controls harvesting and replanting. And ensures regeneration and sustainability of the sandalwood industry. It means that only a percentage of sandalwood can be harvested each year. For every tree that is harvested, 12 sandalwood seeds must be planted. All of the State’s harvested sandalwood comes from natural plains, mainly in the pastoral regions of Western Australia.
The State’s sandalwood resources are governed and owned by the Forest Products Commission (FPC).
Forest Products Commission is the largest supplier in the world. Western Australia is the only region in the world that can guarantee harvest of approximately 2000 tonnes of sandalwood each year on a sustainable basis so that there will be a planned stable market for future generations.
Wescorp Sandalwood Pty Ltd is the sole processor, marketer and exporter of Santalum spicatum for FPC. Santalum spicatum is responsible for the supply of over 50% of Santalum to the trading world.
This puts us as a market leader in supplying the world.
This puts us as a market leader in supplying the world.
New Mountain Sandalwood Pty Ltd
For centuries, Indian Sandalwood was called “Old Mountain” by the Chinese. When the Australian Sandalwood became globally recognised as a valuable commodity, the Chinese began calling it ‘New Mountain”. New Mountain Sandalwood belongs to Wescorp International which supplies the world market with 60% of traded sandalwood.
Natural Mosquito Repellent
From our past research with the government, we knew that sandalwood was an effective mosquito repellent, used by our indigenous people in ancient times by burning the bark, wood and the leaves. They also used it for medicinal purposes.
New Mountain Sandalwood developed a natural mosquito repellent using pure deadwood spicatum – sandalwood that has naturally died in the desert. Sandalwood Mosquito Sticks is the only chemical free, environmentally friendly, natural mosquito repellent on the market that is safe for children and pets. We transferred the ancient tradition used by the Aborigines into a stick so it won’t break and is easy to use. They smell beautiful and the calming properties of sandalwood means enjoyment, worry free, in the outdoors whilst keeping the mosquitoes at bay.
Sandalwood as a Natural Alternative
Combining the elements of moon and water, sandalwood and sandalwood oil is renowned for its spiritual, therapeutic and healing properties. Sandalwood oil has been used to treat conditions such as anxiety, respiratory infection and sleep disorders. It assists in relaxing the muscles and has been used for centuries in meditation and prayer.
New Mountain Sandalwood has pure oil and other calming sandalwood products available.
Our products are Australian made and our company Australian owned.
GIVE ‘EM THE STICK™
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