UTAS has a long history of research in eucalypt genetics.

Newton Barber initiated this field of research through his studies of clines (e.g. Barber 1955. Evolution 9:1-14). This research was continued by his student Bill Jackson (e.g. Barber & Jackson. 1957. Nature 179:1267-69).

A student of Bill Jackson, Jim Reid, trained many eucalypt geneticists including Brad Potts (e.g. Potts & Reid. 1988. Evolution 42: 1245-55). In the 1990s, research in eucalypt genetics expanded greatly when Jim Reid and Brad Potts played a key role in attracting funding for a Cooperative Research Centre (the CRC for Temperate Hardwood Forestry, 1991-1997). This funding allowed recruitment of René Vaillancourt in 1992 and Dorothy Steane in 1995.

The first CRC was succeeded by the CRC for Sustainable Production Forestry (1998-2004), the CRC for Forestry (2005-2011), the National Centre for Future Forest Industries (2012-2015) and the ARC Centre for Forest Value. During this time Brad Potts and René Vaillancourt attracted funding from ARC grants, which collectively allowed employment of several Research Fellows (e.g. Jules Freeman, Rebecca Jones, Matthew Larcombe, Matthew Hamilton).