Aboriginal Uses of Native Plants
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7 Native Cypress-pine

Callitris (various species)

Habitat: Inland and coastal woodlands
Season: All year

Murray River people used the resin from Callitris species as an adhesive for fastening barbs to reed spears and axe-heads to handles.
illustration
Axe-head attached with resin from the Native Cypress-pine. These types of axes were used in Victoria, north-western parts of NSW and in Queensland.

From the long branches, they made canoe poles which doubled as fish spears.
illustration
Fish spear


Australian National Botanic Gardens - Education Service