Backhousia Citriodora - Lemon Myrtle History

Lemon Myrtle History

• Pre 1788 – Aboriginal people use B.citriodora for medicine and flavouring.
• 1853 – Scientifically named Backhousia citriodora by botanist, Ferdinand von Mueller, with the genus named after friend, James Backhouse, quaker missionary and botanist.
• 1888 – Bertram isolates citral from B.citriodora oil, and Messrs. Schimmel and Co., Dresden, write about the essential oil as having “…probably a future.”
• 1900s-1920s – B.citriodora distilled on a small-scale commercial basis around Eumundi, Queensland.
• 1920s – Discovery of antimicrobial qualities of steam-distilled B.citriodora oil, by A.R. Penfold and R.Grant, Technological Museum, Sydney.
• 1940s – Tarax Co. use B.citriodora oil as a lemon flavouring during World War II.
• 1950s – Some production of oil carried out in the Maryborough and Miriam Vale areas from bush stands by JR Archibold, but the small industry falls into decline.
• 1989 – B.citriodora investigated as a potential leaf spice and commercial crop by Peter Hardwick, Wildnerness Foods Pty Ltd. The company commissions Dr Ian Southwell, The Essential Oils Unit, Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, to analyse B.citriodora selections using gas chromatography.
• 1990 – Restaurants and food manufacturers supplied with dried B.citriodora leaf by Vic Cherikoff, Bush Tucker Supply Pty Ltd, produced by Russel and Sharon Costin, Limpinwood Gardens.
• 1991 – B.citriodora plantation established by Dennis Archer and Rosemary Cullen-Archer, Toona Essential Oils Pty Ltd, ; and subsequent commercial supply of plantation produced B.citriodora oil in 1993.
• 1997 – Large-scale plantations of B.citriodora established in north Queensland, by Australian Native Lemon Myrtle Ltd.
• Late 1990s – B.citriodora begins to be supplied internationally for a range of flavouring, cosmetic and anti-microbial products. Agronomic production of B.citriodora starts to exceed demand.
• 2001 – Standards for Oil of B.citriodora established by The Essential Oils Unit, Wollongbar, and Standards Australia.
• 2004 – Monograph published on B.citriodora by Toona Essential Oils pty Ltd.
• 2010 – Lemon myrtle sells out in London after Jamie Oliver describes it as "pukka" on his TV show.