APMF

specimen was received for planting in the Sydney Botanic Gardens. In NSW with a focus was on tannin bark production, the first experimental plantings by the Forestry Branch were of acacia species in 1882 along a railway reserve with P. radiata first planted between 1883 and 1885. The first plantation developments of P. radiata occurred in 1876 in South Australia with the first log processed in 1903 into 28 apple cases. Private companies also developed plantation resources: for example, APM Forestry Pty Ltd was created in 1951, however Australian Paper Manufactures’ (APM’s) first plantings occurred in NSW in 1948 with the Gippsland plantation program commencing in the 1950’s with both softwoods and eucalypts planted as potential resource for the company’s pulp and paper operations.

Photo left and middle aerial View Jeeralang Tree Farm E. regnans plantations APMF 1991. Photo right. E regnans plantations APMF 1991 Photo Credit R B McCarthy.

Extensive planting of P radiata started in Australia in 1907 and by 1925, all the southern Australian States were planting substantial areas of this species.

Clear-felling Mature P. radiata stands 1992 Longford Tree Farm ck age 26-28 yr. APMF. Photo Credit R B McCarthy

Jenkin37 (2018), identified six phases of development of the Australian plantation estate.

• Phase 1: The first phase of the estate development up until the 1960’s witnessed a very slow establishment rate.

• Phase 2: During phase 2 (early 1960s to early 1980s) saw a significant acceleration in development supported by the Commonwealth Government Softwood Loans Scheme.

37 Jenkin B (2018) Next Generation Plantation Investment Research Project Benchmarking analysis: Part 1 Australia’s history of plantation development, policy, and incentives. Faculty of Science School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences Next Generation Plantation Investment Research Project: Benchmarking Report 1 MU NT Final Report