The first time we held a piece of Camphor Laurel timber, we weren't thinking about sustainability. We weren't thinking about invasive species or native ecosystems or environmental impact. We were thinking about how unbelievably beautiful it was.
The grain stopped us. Warm honey tones streaked with darker browns and reds, every piece completely different from the last. And then the smell. If you've ever worked with Camphor Laurel, you know. A clean, almost sweet camphor scent that fills the entire studio the moment you start shaping it. We fell in love with the timber before we knew anything else about it.
What came next changed everything. We learned that Camphor Laurel is actually one of Australia's most destructive invasive species. And that by using it, we could be part of the solution. Then we discovered it was naturally antibacterial, making it one of the best timbers in the world for food preparation. Everything just clicked into place. That was the beginning of The Fifth Design, and Camphor Laurel timber has been at the heart of every board we've made from our Sunshine Coast studio ever since.
A Beautiful Tree with a Complicated History
Camphor Laurel (Cinnamomum camphora) is native to China, Japan, and Southeast Asia. It was introduced to Australia around 1822 as an ornamental shade tree and quickly became a fixture in streetscapes, schools, and cemeteries across New South Wales and Queensland.
Australia's subtropical climate suited the tree too well. Without the natural predators that keep it in check in Asia, Camphor Laurel spread aggressively through the coastal hinterland. Today, it is ranked among the top ten most invasive plants in south-eastern Queensland and is classified as a noxious weed in many local government areas.
The damage is real. Camphor Laurel forms dense canopies that block sunlight and suppress native seedlings. Its shallow root system destabilises creek banks and promotes erosion. In south-eastern Queensland, it is replacing native blue gums, one of the primary food sources for koalas. Left unchecked, it forms single-species stands where almost nothing else can grow.
Turning an Environmental Problem into Something Meaningful
Here is where the story shifts. Because the same qualities that make Camphor Laurel such a relentless invader also make it an extraordinary timber.
The wood is dense, strong, and remarkably stable once properly seasoned. The grain patterns are unlike anything else available in Australian timber. Honey blondes, warm ambers, dramatic dark streaks, and the occasional deep red or black from mineral deposits in the soil. No two pieces look alike. And because these trees grow large and fast, they yield substantial slabs that allow us to carve each of our handcrafted resin boards from a single, solid piece of timber. No glued strips. No joints. Just one continuous piece of wood.
Every board we create at The Fifth Design starts with Camphor Laurel sourced from a local supplier. These trees are being removed as part of ongoing land management across Queensland and northern New South Wales. By transforming that timber into functional art, we give it a purpose that outlasts the problem it once caused. The trees that were choking out native ecosystems become serving boards, cheese boards, and paddle boards that families use for decades.
This is not a marketing angle we invented. It is simply what happens when you choose to work with this timber. Every piece of Camphor Laurel we use is one less tree pressuring native vegetation. Once removed, native species have the space and sunlight to regenerate.
Why Camphor Laurel Belongs in Your Kitchen
The sustainability story alone would be enough reason to love this timber. But Camphor Laurel has practical qualities that make it genuinely exceptional for homewares and food preparation.
The natural oils present in Camphor Laurel wood give it inherent antibacterial properties. Studies comparing different food preparation surfaces found that Camphor Laurel consistently harboured less bacteria and fungi than plastic, glass, and other common timber species. Those same oils are what give the wood its distinctive clean scent, and they remain present in the timber for the life of the board.
The density of the wood means it resists scoring and knife marks better than softer timbers. A well-maintained Camphor Laurel board will last generations, not years. We have customers who use their boards daily for food preparation on the timber side and then flip them over to serve on the resin side when guests arrive. That dual functionality is exactly how we designed them.
But durability like this does not happen by accident. Our timber seasons for 12 to 24 months in controlled conditions before we ever touch it. This slow, patient process allows the moisture content to stabilise gradually, which prevents the cracking, warping, and splitting that can ruin lesser boards within a year or two. It is one of the reasons our pieces feel different the moment you pick them up. There is a weight and solidity to properly seasoned Camphor Laurel that you can feel in your hands.
From Raw Timber to Your Table
When a piece of seasoned Camphor Laurel arrives in our Sunshine Coast studio, we spend time with it before making a single cut. Every slab has its own character. Knots, grain direction, colour variation, natural edges. These details determine the shape, size, and style of the finished board.
We carve each board from that single piece of timber. This is a deliberate choice that most manufacturers avoid because it requires larger, more expensive slabs and produces more waste. Boards made from glued strips of smaller timber are cheaper and easier to produce, but they have weak points at every joint. A single-piece board has no seams, no glue lines, and no structural compromises. It is simply stronger.
Once shaped, the timber side is sanded and finished for food preparation. The opposite side receives our hand-poured resin art, where ocean-inspired colours flow across the natural wood grain. After a decade of working with resin, we have developed an intuition for how pigments move, settle, and cure. Each pour is controlled but never identical. The result is a piece that works as a kitchen tool and doubles as art for your bench or wall between gatherings.
For those who want something even more personal, our in-house laser engraving etches directly into the timber fibres. Names, dates, quotes, coordinates. Whatever holds meaning for you or the person you are giving it to. The engraving becomes part of the wood itself, not a surface treatment that fades or peels. Paired with one of our curated gift boxes, an engraved board becomes the kind of gift people keep forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Camphor Laurel timber sustainable for homewares and chopping boards?
Yes. Camphor Laurel is one of Australia's most invasive tree species, and harvesting it actually benefits native ecosystems. When these trees are removed, native vegetation can regenerate in areas previously dominated by dense Camphor Laurel canopy. Using this timber for handcrafted homewares gives an environmental problem a productive, long-lasting purpose.
What makes Camphor Laurel naturally antibacterial?
Camphor Laurel contains natural oils within its wood grain that inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. These oils remain present throughout the life of the timber and do not diminish with use. Testing has shown Camphor Laurel surfaces harbour significantly less microbial growth than plastic, glass, and many other timber species.
How long does a Camphor Laurel cheese board last?
A properly seasoned and maintained Camphor Laurel board will last for generations. Our timber is seasoned for 12 to 24 months before use, preventing cracking and warping. With simple care (hand washing, avoiding soaking, and periodic oiling with food-grade oil), your board will develop a beautiful patina and continue to perform beautifully for decades.
Why does The Fifth Design use single-piece timber instead of glued strips?
Most board manufacturers glue smaller strips of timber together because it is cheaper. We carve each board from a single piece of Camphor Laurel because it produces a stronger, more durable product with no weak points at joints or seams. The result is a board built to be handed down, not replaced.
There is something quietly powerful about knowing where your things come from. Not just the country of origin on a label, but the real story. The tree that grew too well in a place it was never meant to be. The timber that smelled like possibility the first time we held it. The months of patient seasoning. The single careful cut.
When you set one of our resin cheese boards on your table, you are part of that story. A piece of Australia's landscape, transformed from environmental problem into something your family will gather around for years. Explore our full range of handcrafted Camphor Laurel paddle boards and resin boards, each one carved from a single piece of sustainably sourced timber in our Sunshine Coast studio.
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