Cedar Logging in the Northern Rivers: From “Red Gold” to Restoration
This story takes place on Bundjalung and Githabul Country. We acknowledge Elders past and present, and recognise First Nations’ enduring custodianship of rainforest Country and waterways.
Photo credit Ian Stych
The Big Scrub Before Logging
Before colonisation, the lowlands between today’s Byron, Ballina and Lismore were covered by about 75,000 hectares of subtropical lowland rainforest known as the Big Scrub. The Wilsons, Richmond and Tweed rivers threaded through dense forest rich in red cedar, white booyong, figs and black beans. Cultural management by the Traditional Owners maintained ecological health and abundance.
1828: Rivers Mapped, Access Opened
In 1828, colonial surveyors charted the Richmond River system, opening practical access for boats and, soon after, for timber crews seeking valuable rainforest trees. The rivers would become the highways of the timber frontier.
1840s: The Cedar‑getter Era Begins
When Australian red cedar (Toona ciliata) nicknamed “red gold” hit Sydney markets, demand exploded. Cedar‑getters moved into the Richmond/Wilsons and Tweed valleys in the early–mid 1840s. They focused on the biggest, straightest trees near waterways, felling them with axes and crosscut saws. Logs were dragged by bullock teams to creeks, then floated/rafted downstream to river depots and coastal schooners.
Why cedar? The timber is light, workable, beautifully grained and crucially buoyant, making river transport efficient before roads existed.
1860s–1890s: From Timber Frontier to Farming Frontier
The Robertson Lands Acts (1861) enabled free selection of Crown land, accelerating closer settlement. As selectors took up blocks, the focus shifted from selective logging to broadscale clearing for dairying and crops. Sawmills appeared at strategic river points (e.g., Wyrallah), and cedar continued to move along the river network but the biggest trees were already becoming scarce.
By the 1870s–1890s, the cedar resource in the Tweed and Richmond valleys was largely depleted. Timber crews pushed further afield (including northern NSW ranges and Queensland) as local supplies dwindled.
By ~1900: The Big Scrub Almost Gone
Within a few decades, the vast majority of the Big Scrub had been cleared, leaving only small, scattered remnants of the original rainforest. Less than 1% survives today in protected patches and private fragments.
1990s–Today: Caring for What Remains
From the early 1990s, community‑led restoration ramped up. Local Landcare groups and partners began weed control, assisted regeneration and replanting to stabilise and reconnect remnant patches. Annual community events and on‑ground programs continue to expand habitat and protect threatened species.
Where to See Remnants Today
· Booyong Flora Reserve (near Clunes/Alstonville): flat walking tracks through classic Big Scrub species.
· Victoria Park Nature Reserve (near Alstonville): boardwalk loop with excellent interpretive signage.
· Andrew Johnston Big Scrub Nature Reserve and Davis Scrub Nature Reserve: small but important patches of subtropical rainforest.
· Nightcap National Park (upland rainforest): not Big Scrub lowland, but a powerful contrast showing surviving Gondwanan rainforest communities.
More resources
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-22/curious-why-was-the-big-scrub-cleared/9174682