I had the same problem in my front lawn. Was pretty certain that it was chinch bug but could not find any. Kept checking and finally found them at high noon under hot sun which is their most active period. Treated with an insecticide to which I added a sticker, spread Ironite and lightly tossed Epsom salts on the affected areas. Saw signs of recovery in a week and complete recovery in another week. Suggest you assume the problem is chinch bug and treat those affected areas with one of the recommended insecticides following label instructions.

Sylvia, they have seed pods on them now....I can send you about a million seeds in a couple of months, but if it ever gets out that you got them started in your area, they might string you up. I believe I read somewhere that the original owner of Teas Nursery in Houston is the one who brought them here and got them started. They do make a fast growing tree that has fall color....something not very plentiful around here...fall coloring. I don't think they make a very long lived tree though....maybe 30 to 40 years. Let me know if you still want some seeds and I can send you all you want in a few months. They are also a very messy tree....always dropping something....blooms, seeds, the seed pods themselves, and leaves....but if you want some seeds, I can send you all you want. I remember about 25 years ago, someone was buying the seeds....when they first drop they are white, then turn black. I think they wanted just the white ones....was going to try to find a use for them....making what, I don't know. I remember my neighbor at the time was collecting the seeds to sell.

Neil Sperry actually says the tallowtree is an acceptable tree for North Texas. We have 2, they were here before we were, but I've noticed they don't make any of the berries/seeds, so I don't know if they're sterile, or male trees? I don't know enough about them to know what the deal is, but we haven't seen any mess or seedlings. They're actually very pretty in the fall.

Growing up on the east coast of Oz as a kid, my brothers and I regularly climbed and even built a rough tree house (couple of wobbly planks nailed to branches!) in a good sized Black Wattle (Acacia mearnsii). Like most Acacias, very fast growing, yet longer-lived than many. Also shallow rooted. Bees do like its flowers, but it only blooms for a month or so in late spring. Can be invasive on east coast, not sure about Perth? Maybe check with a local nursery...