Timber Posts - Built for the Australian Outdoors
The right fence post does its job without asking for anything in return. It holds the load, marks the boundary, and stands firm through whatever the Australian climate throws at it. Timber offers a combination of natural strength, proven durability, and visual character that no manufactured material can replicate. The key is matching the right species to the right conditions.
Durable Hardwoods supplies Cypress Pine, Merbau, and Treated Pine fence posts across NSW, Queensland, Victoria, and South Australia — backed by direct mill relationships and deep knowledge of how each timber performs in the ground.
Posts for Every Application
Timber fence posts work across a wider range of applications than any other fencing material. From working farms and organic vineyards to public parks, coastal reserves, and urban construction sites — our posts go into some of Australia's most demanding environments. Whatever the application, we supply the right timber, in the right size, to the right specification.
Farm & Rural Fencing
Boundary fencing, paddock division, and livestock containment. Our posts are selected for strength, stability, and the ability to perform in challenging rural soils over the long term..
Wineries & Viticulture
Hardwood posts are the natural choice for organic and boutique vineyards — no chemical treatment means no risk of preservative leaching into soil or vines.
Parks & Councils
Durable, low-maintenance posts for public open spaces, walking trails, nature reserves, and heritage areas. Trusted by councils across four states.
Landscaping
From retaining structures and garden edging to feature fencing and screens — timber posts complement any landscaping design with natural warmth and character.
Coastal Areas
Salt air and high moisture demand timber that can take it. Our posts are selected for proven performance in coastal and marine-adjacent environments..
Builders & Contractors
Supply-ready stock for residential and commercial fencing projects. Consistent sizing, quality grading, and reliable availability across all states..
Fence Post Species Profile
Australia is hard on fence posts. Heat, moisture, termites, salt air, and heavy loads — the conditions vary, but the demand for performance does not. Three species meet that demand, each in a different way:
- Cypress Pine brings natural termite resistance and dimensional stability
- Treated Pine offers reliable, cost-effective performance at scale
- Merbau delivers exceptional hardness and above-ground strength.
The right choice depends on your application, your environment, and how long you need it to last.
The profiles below give you what you need to choose with confidence. You'll also find guidance on post sizing and common sizes.
Cypress Pine
Cypress Pine is one of Australia's most celebrated native timbers — and for good reason. Naturally termite resistant, dimensionally stable, and surprisingly lightweight, it is a highly versatile post timber suited to a wide range of fencing applications.
Its natural oils provide inherent resistance to termites and decay without the need for chemical treatment, making it an excellent choice for organic properties, vineyards, and environmentally sensitive areas.
Key Specifications
Species | Callitris glaucophylla (White Cypress Pine) |
Durability — Above Ground | Class 1 — 50+ years |
Durability — In Ground | Class 2–3 — 8 to 15 years |
Structural Grade | F7 |
Termite Resistance | High — naturally resistant |
Treatment Required | None for above ground. Bitumen coating recommended for in-ground use |
Colour | Pale straw to golden yellow. Weathers to a natural silver-grey |
Weight | Lightweight — easy to handle and install |
Best For | Post and rail fencing, rural farm fencing, gates, pergolas, organic and vineyard applications |
Treated Pine: Radiata Pine — Preservative Treated
Treated Pine is Australia's most widely used fencing post timber. Cost-effective, readily available, and consistently sized, it is the practical choice for large-scale fencing projects where volume and budget are the primary considerations.
Radiata Pine in its natural state has low durability outdoors. However, through preservative pressure treatment, it becomes highly resistant to decay, insects, and termites — making it suitable for a wide range of in-ground fencing applications across all Australian climate zones.
For farm fencing, boundary fencing, and large residential projects, Treated Pine delivers reliable, long-term performance at a competitive price point.
Species | Pinus radiata — Radiata Pine |
Treatment Standard | AS/NZS 1604 |
Hazard Level — Fence Posts | H4 minimum (in-ground) |
Hazard Level — Fresh Water | H5 (dam posts, jetties) |
Treatment Types | CCA (Copper Chrome Arsenic) or ACQ (Alkaline Copper Quaternary) |
Durability (treated) | 20 to 40+ years depending on hazard level and conditions |
Termite Resistance | High — achieved through preservative treatment |
Colour | Natural golden to greenish tinge from treatment. Weathers to grey |
Best For | Farm fencing, rural boundary fencing, residential fencing, large-volume projects, landscaping |
Merbau
Merbau is a premium tropical hardwood renowned for its exceptional strength, density, and natural beauty. It is one of the highest-rated hardwoods available — making it an outstanding choice for feature fencing, gate posts, pergola posts, and structural applications. Its rich reddish-brown colour and striking grain make it a popular choice where appearance matters as much as performance — including winery trellising, architecturally designed fences, and high-end landscaping projects.
Key Specifications
Species | Intsia bijuga / Intsia palembanica |
Durability — Above Ground | Class 1 - 50+ years |
Durability — In Ground | Class 2 - up to 25 years |
Janka Hardness | 8.6 kN - Hard |
Density | ~830 kg/m³ - High Density |
Termite Resistance | High — naturally resistant above ground |
Bushfire Rating | BAL–29 compliant - High Heat and Ember Resistance |
Colour | Rich reddish-brown to dark brown with golden streaks |
Best For | Feature posts, gate posts, pergola posts, above-ground structural posts, winery trellis end posts, architectural fencing |
Merbau is the preferred choice for organic wineries and boutique vineyards as it requires no chemical treatment, eliminating any risk of preservative leaching into soil or vines.
Fence Post Sizing Guide
Post length depends on your fence height, soil conditions, and how deep you need to set the post. As a general rule, one-third of the total post length should be below ground — with a minimum of 600mm in standard conditions.
Standard Length Table
Post Length | Fence Height | Typical Use |
1800mm | Up to 1200mm | Low, temporary, or decorative fencing |
2100mm | 1500mm | Standard residential and garden fencing |
2400mm | 1800mm | Most common — residential fencing, gates and corners |
2700mm | 1800–2100mm | Where deeper footings are required |
3000mm | Up to 2400mm | Tall fencing, soft soil, high-wind areas |
Additional Guidance
• One-third rule: At least one-third of your post should be set below ground. For a 2.4m post, that's 800mm in the ground leaving 1.6m above.
• Minimum depth: Always set posts a minimum of 600mm deep for standard fences, regardless of height.
• Windy or coastal sites: Increase footing depth to 900mm or more to resist lateral load from wind.
• Soft or sandy soil: Use longer posts to achieve greater footing depth and stability.
• Sloped terrain: Posts on a slope may need to be longer to maintain a consistent fence height above ground.
• Corner and gate posts: Always use a larger section size and deeper footing than intermediate posts — these carry the greatest load.
Common Post Sizes
Available in square, rectangular, and round profiles. Sizes below represent commonly stocked dimensions — custom sizes available through our mill network. Contact us to confirm current availability.
Square / Rectangular Posts
Size | Typical Use |
75 × 75mm | Light duty, picket fencing, garden edging |
90 × 90mm | Standard residential fencing, light gate posts |
100 × 100mm | Standard hardwood and cypress post size |
115 × 115mm | Medium duty fencing, pergola posts |
125 × 75mm | Intermediate rural fencing posts |
140 × 140mm | Heavy duty posts, large gate posts, structural |
150 × 150mm | Corner posts, heavy gate posts, rural strainer posts |
Round Posts (Treated Pine)
Diameter | Typical Use |
75–100mm | Light rural fencing, temporary fencing |
100–125mm | Standard rural boundary fencing |
125–150mm | Medium rural, farm fencing |
150–200mm | Heavy farm fencing, strainer posts |
200–250mm | Heavy strainer posts, high-load rural applications |
