Buying firewood

You’ll find firewood for sale across Victoria, including on social media sites, roadside stalls, and through word-of-mouth. It’s important to be aware that some of this wood has likely been collected illegally from State forests or parks. It’s not always easy to tell at first glance, so we urge you to ask the right questions.

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• Where does your wood come from?

If your firewood seller is legitimate, they should be able to tell you where they source their wood. They can legally get it from a wholesale supplier, a commercial wood lot, or private land with the permission of the landowner.

• Firewood legally collected from State forests is only allowed to be used for someone’s personal use, such as at home or for camping, and cannot be sold to make a profit.
• If the wood has come from private land and it’s a native species (like river red gum), the landowner generally needs a permit from their local council.

• Can I get a receipt?

If your firewood seller is legitimate, they should have all the right paperwork. If they won’t provide a tax receipt with a business name and ABN listed, you should wonder why.

• Why is the wood so cheap?

If your firewood seller is legitimate, they will need to balance their costs. If you’re buying firewood through social media websites and the firewood seems too cheap, ask your supplier why.

• Report dodgy sellers

If you think someone might be selling firewood illegally, you can make an anonymous report by calling us on 136 186.

• Why does it matter?

Firewood illegally taken from public land damages the environment and steals from the whole Victorian community, and wood stolen in commercial quantities can recklessly destroy forest ecosystems and threated the survival of native species. It can take hundreds of years for trees to develop the hollows which some of our most vulnerable wildlife rely on for habitat.

Authorised Officers target illegal firewood theft through dedicated enforcement operations and have uncovered large criminal syndicates illegally collecting and selling firewood to the unsuspecting public, often via social media.

• Help dealing with energy costs

The Victorian Government provides financial support and energy efficiency programs to help people with the cost of energy. To read about the different programs available and check your eligibility, visit the Energy concession and support page.

The slideshow below shows just some of the native wildlife harmed by the illegal collection of firewood on public land.

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• ### Major Mitchell’s cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri) The vulnerable Major Mitchell’s cockatoo nests at the bottom of tree hollows.

View ‘Major Mitchell’s cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)’ fullscreen

• ### Bearded dragon (Pogona barbata) Bearded dragons prefer living in trees in woodlands and dry forests.

View ‘Bearded dragon (Pogona barbata)’ fullscreen

• ### Powerful owl (Ninox strenua) Powerful owls are endangered in Victoria and nest in large hollow trees.

View ‘Powerful owl (Ninox strenua)’ fullscreen

• ### Brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) The rare Brush-tailed Phascogale relies on hollows in dead or live trees to nest multiple times each year.

View ‘Brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa)’ fullscreen

• ### Red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) The Red-tailed black cockatoo is threatened in Victoria require large hollows in eucalypts like River Red Gum for nesting.

View ‘Red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne)’ fullscreen

• ### Lace monitor (Varanus varius) Lace monitors forage through tree hollows for food sources

View ‘Lace monitor (Varanus varius)’ fullscreen

Updated 18 August 2025

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