The highway is named after the Bunya-bunya Araucaria bidwilli, which grows in the area and the seeds of which were (and still are) a favourite food of the Aborigines.
Araucaria | Araucaria araucana | Araucaria angustifolia | Araucaria bidwillii | Norfolk Island Pines ''(Araucaria heterophylla)'' | Araucaria heterophylla | ''Araucaria angustifolia'' in Campos do Jordão | araucaria |
Parts of the forest were once logged for various timbers including red cedar, bunya pine and hoop pine.