In South Australia the scarcity of easily obtainable timber, as compared to the other Australian States, and especially the absence of softwoods, led to the utilization of stone and clay. Stone is very extensively used for building, both in its natural form and, latterly, as the aggregate for concrete. At the same time local clay products have been and are used very largely in construction. Bricks were made at an early date, and their use appears to be steadily increasing. Additional demands on clays were later made by the inauguration of cement making, and by the production of pipes and roofing tiles. Firebricks of various types were also made at it comparatively early stage, chiefly in connection with the metallurgy of copper.