Brachychiton rupestris - Queensland Bottle Tree

It looks as if someboty had a bonfire in there.

Wagger,

Most likely it was termites or old age...or some other type of bug that ate the inside of this tree trunk. I've seen other trees of this same species have this same hallow trunk.

Does the hollow nature of the trunk, cause it to be weaker and the tree more likely to die ?

Terratoonie,

I'm not sure, however, it appears very strong and I know this tree has been here for many, many years.