Abstract:
Despite the fact that timber is such a versatile construction material, during this last century it has
significantly lagged behind developments in steel and concrete, particularly in Australia. Whilst use
of timber in residential house framing has been well established in both Australia and New Zealand
since the 1940's; for many years, concrete and steel were perceived as the only viable engineering
materials for larger commercial and industrial structures.
However, concentrated research efforts, focused education programs and technology transfers from
overseas countries over the past two decades, have facilitated the use of timber in non - residential
markets. As a result, there has been considerable activity in both countries focusing on innovative
development and application of timber in "engineered" structures. This paper presents an overview
of various projects and initiatives that are current or have been recently completed.
