abstract variations in the chemical composition and concentration of foliar essential oils of melaleuca ericifolia from throughout the natural range of the species in southeastern australia have been studied. the principal aim was to identify seed sources that had abundant oil with relatively high proportions of linalool in combination with relatively low proportions of 1,8-cineole for establishment of pilot plantations. oil yield (w/w% dw +/- sd) was greatest amongst nsw populations (3.2% +/- 0.95) and poorest amongst the populations from western victoria and northwestern tasmania (0.6% +/- 0.3). oil composition varied quantitatively throughout the species range rather than qualitatively in an apparent association with latitude of occurrence. linalool and linalool oxide were abundant in the oils from the north of the species range in new south wales with a gradual southerly decline in these compounds to central victoria with concomitant increase in the proportions of 1,8-cineole, -terpineol and limonene. the most southerly populations sampled in southern victoria and tasmania gave oils containing relatively high proportions of 1,8-cineole (mean 34.5% +/- sd 6.6) and low proportions of linalool (3% +/- 4.5). four populations from the central coast of nsw (coopernook, hawks nest, the entrance and tuggerah lake) provided the greatest opportunity of identifying seed trees that combine the attributes required for plantation development. the tree that had the best combination of oil traits (dl 3116 from hawks nest) had an oil yield of 4.5%, a linalool content of 60% and a 1,8-cineole content of 16%.