Macrocarpa pine is the common Australian name for a species of tree, Cupressus macrocarpa, widely used in Tasmania, parts of Victoria and New Zealand in windbreaks. The species is a native of California, USA where it is known as Monterey Cypress.
While it is now being planted in farm plantations, timber from Macrocarpa pine is currently relatively rare, as its main source is mature windbreaks.
Macrocarpa is a brittle wood and it is difficult to dry and grade accurately.
AS/NZS 2873:2000 Timber - Classification into strength groups does not include a strength group for Macrocarpa.
Information from New Zealand gives Macrocarpa a density of about 485 kg/cu. m. Using this, AS/NZS 2873:2000 would assign a provisional strength group of SD8 for seasoned Macrocarpa, the lowest available. This means boards would have a stress grade of F8 to F4, depending on the characteristics of the piece.
With short spiral grain and brittle nature, generally a stress grade of F4 is used for anything other than the best clear pieces.
Macrocarpa is a relatively durable softwood and NZ sources claim that is suitable for H3 applications - exposed above ground.
