Some time ago I brought a chunk of wood to a meeting and asked if anyone could identify it. Nobody knew for sure, but most of the guesses were some sort of mahogany. Today I talked to the foreman and got an answer. It is Queensland Maple. This is also known as silkwood or silk maple and is not a true (acer) maple. You can look it up online for a better description, but it is natural to Australia and seldom seen here. I have a bunch of 8/4 stock if anybody wants to play with a piece.
Bill