‘Beautiful’ Huon pine log dubbed ‘Monster’ on display at Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart

The owner of a gargantuan Huon pine log now on display at a Hobart hotel says it’s “the most heavily burled log I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen quite a few”.

The Huon pine known as Monster is now on display at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart. Picture: Supplied

Its gnarled and twisted form reflects hundreds of years growing in the harsh Tasmanian wilderness and earned it the nickname Monster – but for the sawmiller who owns it, the huge Huon pine log is a thing of beauty.

Weighing in at 2.5 tonnes, and measuring 5.6m the log is the single largest installation of its kind to be displayed at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart.

Third generation sawmiller Ian Bradshaw acquired Monster 20 years ago and he’s never seen anything like it.

The Huon pine known as Monster is now on display at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart. For its owner Ian Bradshaw the log is a thing of beauty. Picture: Supplied

“The log is quite special because it’s so grand,” Mr Bradshaw said.

“It’s actually monstrous, [but] not a monster, as in ugly. It’s actually quite beautiful.

“It’s so very Tasmanian that we’re able to survive in very harsh, remote and sometimes inhospitable areas.

“It’s unique because of not only its appearance, but the anomalies described as burling that has encompassed the whole of the outside of the log to such a large scale. It’s undoubtably a magnificent example of the species.”

Monster is from the rainforests of the Teepookana Plateau near Strahan on Tasmania’s West Coast.

Aaron Cuneo master storyteller at MACq01 and Henry Jones Art Hotel with monster. A giant Huon pine log called 'Monster' is now on display at the atrium at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

While Huon pine has largely been used for boat building, with harvesting ceasing in the 1970s, a burled Huon pine tree with knotted lumps and bumps was widely viewed as unusable and invaluable.

Mr Bradshaw recognised Monster’s beauty in its flaws, “I believe Monster to be the most heavily burled log I’ve ever seen – and I’ve seen quite a few.”

The Henry Jones Art Hotel Master Storyteller Aaron Cuneo said Monster was installed in the hotel this year to tell a uniquely Tasmanian tale.

A giant Huon pine log called 'Monster' is now on display at the atrium at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“Huon pine has been in existence for 10,500 years and is among the last remnants of Gondwana anywhere on earth. It really represents the Tasmanian story, which is one of resilience,” he said.

the public can view Monster at thew hotel and hear more about it as part of the Sticky Stones and Secrets tour daily which leaves from the MACq01 reception at 12:30pm. More details are available at MACq01 Hotel.

Originally published as ‘Beautiful’ Huon pine log dubbed ‘Monster’ on display at Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart