There should be plenty of Australian Pine trees, cassarina, down where you live. Parnel has made some zippy bows from it and I've never seen a tougher piece of wood with it's tight interlocking grain. Hickory would be your next best.
The osage will grow but very slowly. There are two that are at least 15 years old in the front yard of my old house in Lakeland, Fl. Get in touch with Parnell, he's in Naples.