Tiwi Plantations Corporation
Updated: 3 days ago
The Tiwi Islands has a long history of forestry. A small sawmill on Melville Island provided Karntirrikani or native Cypress pine (Callitris intratropica) for the rebuilding of Darwin after the 1897 cyclone. Throughout the 20th century Tiwi people continued to be involved with sawmilling of native timber and the establishment of plantation trials on the lslands. In the late 1990's a decision was made by Tiwi people to clear up to 30,000 hectares of Melville Island for plantation forestry. This decision was made to support Tiwi employment and economic development.
In 2005, Sylvatech were bought out by Great Southern Plantations, who invested heavily in the plantations and supported the Tiwi community through land rental and ranger programs before going into receivership in 2009. Tiwi leaders were devastated but determined to keep going. They formed their own Tiwi forestry company, Tiwi Plantations Corporation Trust, to ensure the management and harvest of their plantations. Tiwi Plantations Corporation Pty Ltd (https://www.tiwiplantations.com/ ) is the Trustee company for the Tiwi Plantations Corporation Trust, 100% owned by all eight Tiwi clan groups. While over 1 million tonnes of Acacia mangium woodchips were exported from Melville Island, the species was never the commercial success initially envisaged.
In 2026, Tiwi Plantations Corporation finalised an $80 million investment with River Capital and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to replant the full 30,000 hectares with Eucalyptus pellita. This investment will secure the plantation enterprise for the next 36 years delivering jobs, income and self-determination for Tiwi people.
Tiwi Islands Forestry
