Camphor laurel spreads to Queensland

Latest: The Queensland Department of Education has announced a new policy on camphor laurels in school grounds...the trees are to be removed.

 

Dairy or beef graziers took this species with them when moving from Lismore to Atherton after the turn of the century; due to its having a similar climate at significant altitude, the camphors soon became, by the 1970s, an infestation in and around Atherton township and on certain farms.

Large Camphor laurels on Stradbroke Island, planted © 1860

In southern Queensland, the main infestations centre on Eumundi-Yandina and the Gympie districts. Outbreaks are also notable at Miriam Vale, on the Maroochy River, and all around the old trees planted in the Rockhampton Botanic Gardens; along the Pacific Highway, patchy distribution is evident from the Maroochy River north to Gin Gin.

Gympie district citizens have formed a company to utilise the Camphor timber (Steel, personal communication.11/2000).

 

Queensland areas where camphor laurel might thrive