Introduction

Eucalypts hold a special place in my heart for numerous reasons. The scent of eucalypts brings back cosy memories of my childhood. I can vividly recall walking to school and being surrounded by the scent of gum blossoms and the sound of bees. During the scorching summers, eucalypts provided shade and served as meeting points with friends. During the winter months, the soothing eucalyptus oil in the vaporiser provided comfort and relief from colds. Volunteering with Greening Australia introduced me to the first eucalypt I remember, the Coymbia Tessalaris. Eucalypts are truly iconic symbols of Australia, much like merino wool, showcasing the beauty and variety of our country. Living at the foothills of Mount Majura only deepened my appreciation for eucalypts. Everyday, I observed cockatoos feeding on gumnuts  and branches falling to the ground. I collected these branches to experiment with natural dyes, reveling in the vibrant colours they created. To me, eucalypts are more than just trees - they are a connection to my past and a symbol of the beauty of Australia.

In 2022, I was awarded a Dahl Fellowship from Eucalypt Australia with the mission to create a Eucalypt colour map and catalogue of Australia. My goal was to showcase the beauty and remarkable diversity of hues that can be achieved through natural dye methods using eucalypt leaves. It was an honour to work with two Australian icons, eucalypts and Australian merino wool.

Eucalypt Australia is a grant-making Charitable Trust that focuses on eucalypts, an Australian icon and a significant aspect of Australia’s natural environment and biodiversity. We envisage a public inspired by and appreciative of eucalypts.

Locations

I traveled around Australia to collect samples of eucalypt leaves from their natural habitat. Specifically, I chose tropical Far-north Queensland, Southwest of Western Australia, and Ikara-Flinders Ranges in South Australia for this research. This enabled me to explore how diverse environments influence the colours obtained from eucalyptus leaves during the natural dyeing process. I spent a week gathering samples in each location before proceeding with dyeing for color swatches. I was fortunate to visit some locations twice during different seasons.