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In the early
stages of development and exploration of Western Australia, sandalwood was as
precious as gold.
Sandalwood oil was used for medicinal purposes prior to the discovery of
penicillin and also as a fixative for cosmetics.
As an aromatic wood it is used for the production of joss sticks and huge
quantities were exported to China and Hong Kong.
Early uncontrolled exploitation meant that stocks were decimated and a lack of
control on the amounts shipped, led to wild fluctuations in the price. By the
time the Government stepped in and created a permit system, it was already too
late as stocks had declined to a point where they were no longer commercially
viable. As the trees take between 50 and 90 years to mature
the current sandalwood stocks have to be managed very carefully indeed.
Thankfully not all the trees (which are parasitic) were lost, and sandalwood can
still be found in scattered areas through the wheat belt.
The sandalwood cutters were usually the first Europeans to move into many
outlying areas and as they cut tracks across the country they helped to open up
the state. Settlers, prospectors and farmers would all follow in their wake.
The tracks of the sandalwood cutters usually moved from one granite outcrop to
the next as these were known sources of precious water.
There is a sandalwood factory near Albany that produces a range of products
incorporating the plant. It is very interesting and includes a tour of the
factory and information on the trees.
Sandalwood trees are native only to India and Australia.
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