Summary A comprehensive study was conducted on three provenances of ten-year-old Eucalyptus globulus grown on two sites near Mount Gambier, South Australia to assess wood properties as they relate to the end-use as sawn timber, and to examine differences in wood properties between provenances and sites. Ten trees with relatively good form and growth were selected from each provenance at each site. Growth strain was measured on both standing trees and the harvested logs. Data analysis of longitudinal growth strain showed that: (1) mean growth strain throughout the stem at the first site (Johnstons Block) was higher in all three provenances than at the second site (Heath Block), in particular for SE Tasmania provenance; (2) King Island provenance had significantly lower growth strain than the Jeeralang and SE Tasmania provenances; (3) there were no significant differences in mean growth strain with sampling heights up the stem; (4) Jeeralang provenance had higher between-tree and within-tree variation in growth strain whereas King Island provenance had the lowest between—tree and within-tree variation; (5) a single measurement at breast height might be sufficient to detect large provenance differences for sample sizes of between ten and twenty trees per provenance, although much larger sample sizes would likely be required for detecting family differences; and (6) Jeeralang provenance, and SE Tasmania provenance at Johnstons Block, had high levels of growth strain, compared with other Australian major hardwood species, e.g. E. regnans.