Ironbark vs Red Gum: Best Firewood for Long Burning in Melbourne

Two of the most asked-about hardwoods in Melbourne firewood yards: Ironbark and Red Gum. Both are dense Australian hardwoods and both are available from us as Regular or Double Split, seasoned and delivered by the wheelie bin. Here's what actually separates them, and what to look for in either one before it goes on the fire.

Red Gum

Red Gum is the traditional Melbourne firewood, and for good reason. It's a dense hardwood found through South Australia, Victoria and southern New South Wales, most commonly sourced from around the Murray-Darling river system. It burns hot and steady, builds a strong bed of coals, and is a reliable choice across most fireplace and heater types. It doesn't throw tall, dramatic flames the way a lighter wood does, the strength is in the steady radiant heat and the coal bed underneath.

Ironbark

Ironbark is one of the densest firewoods available, sourced from further north through New South Wales and Queensland as well as parts of Victoria. That density is exactly what makes it useful for long burning; a denser piece takes longer to burn through, so the fire holds for longer between reloads. The trade-off is that it can take a little longer to get established, so it's worth lighting with a faster-catching piece or some kindling first.

How to tell if either one is properly seasoned

Whichever wood you choose, seasoning matters more than species. Well-seasoned firewood is noticeably lighter than freshly cut wood, shows small cracks radiating out from the cut ends, and has faded from a fresh pale colour to a duller grey. Two dry pieces knocked together make a sharp, hollow sound rather than a dull thud. Green or under-seasoned wood of either species will smoke more, burn less efficiently and be harder to get going, no matter how dense it is. Every wheelie bin we deliver is filled with fully seasoned, dry wood, so this is one thing you don't need to check yourself.

Choosing your size

Both are available in Standard (loaf-of-bread sized, for regular fireplaces and larger heaters) and Double Split (wrist or wine-bottle sized, for smaller heaters and pizza ovens). Check your heater's kW rating to land on the right size, then choose the wood type based on how long you want each load to last.

Order either as a one-off wheelie bin or set up a subscription, both are treated the same way at checkout, and neither commits you to anything ongoing.