Eucalypts of Narrogin - Art, Science and Story
Chasing Colours
This Project aims to extract dyes and create prints from eucalypt species within a 50km radius of Narrogin.
We use tannins from endemic acacias as part of the mordant process.
We share our results and processes here.
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Our outcomes have excited us and we continue to discover so many variables affecting our results such as seasonal changes, cooking and extraction processes. There is still much to learn.
Project background
Using botanicals for dyeing is an age-old process which was largely discontinued when synthetic dyes became available in the 1800s.
This meant that a lot of Australian plants were never tested for their ‘dyeability’, particularly in Western Australia. Some research on eucalypt dyes has been done. However, many of our local eucalypts have not been scientifically tested for their colour and durability.
Botanical dyeing and printing are very much in the forefront of modern crafting, being incorporated into many facets of the art world.
Our country
The Eucalypt Woodlands of the WA Wheatbelt are protected as a nationally threatened ecological community under Australia’s national environment law.
​Southwestern WA is an internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot.
​​Eucalypt woodlands once formed extensive stands across a large proportion of the WA Wheatbelt. They provide important habitat for many unique animals and are important to local communities, farmers and to Indigenous cultures.​​
50 km radius of Narrogin
Within this zone, we found 37 eucalypt species!
